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From the Editor’s desk
Freight first
Following the recent events of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Federal Budget and re-election into Parliament, the Australian Logistics Council (ALC) is reaffirming the importance of putting the transport sector first by delivering a more resilient, efficient and sustainable freight network.
The Federal Budget that was handed down by Albanese earlier this year received significant backlash from our industry at large. The Prime Minister released a media statement on 25 March where he discussed the Labor Government’s focus on “making our economy more productive and more resilient” but the Budget commitments that followed further down the page said something else for the transport sector which, as we know, plays such a significant part in the aforementioned time ahead.
ALC CEO and Managing Director, Dr Hermione Parsons, said the freight, logistics and supply chain sector underpins Australia’s economic performance and living standards by moving 800 billion tonne-kilometres of freight annually and supporting more than 1.2 million jobs. Welcoming the Albanese Government’s ongoing commitments to infrastructure investment, decarbonisation and skills development, she also took the time to highlight the importance of ensuring freight policy remains front and centre in the Government’s economic and productivity agenda.
In Parson’s words, further policy leadership and cross-jurisdictional coordination will be essential in unlocking the full productivity potential of Australia’s freight network.
“Our industry faces growing expectations to deliver faster, cleaner and more transparent freight services,” she said. “Meeting these expectations requires coordinated long-term planning, regulatory reform and accelerated investment in smart infrastructure and low-emission transport technologies.”
The ALC is now urging Albanese
and his Government to prioritise the delivery of the National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy. This includes ensuring visibility and accountability in implementation, particularly in areas such as urban freight planning, corridor protection and better use of freight data to inform decision-making.
The ALC has also outlined several key priorities for the Federal Government which include resolving critical infrastructure bottlenecks, accelerating decarbonisation by enabling infrastructure for zero-emission heavy vehicles, ensuring long-term protection of freight corridors and regulatory harmonisation across jurisdictions to reduce compliance costs, improve efficiency and support technology adoption.
Through these priorities, Parson said, the ALC will work with the Federal Government to strengthen Australia’s supply chain.
“Freight operators are on the frontline every day – supporting communities, enabling trade, and contributing to national resilience,” she reiterated.
“Our members are investing in smarter, cleaner and more connected freight networks. We look forward to working with the Albanese Government to ensure policy, regulation and investment settings enable this transition.”
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Business partnerships, people movements, developments that bolster freight productivity and more.
20 Economy
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has opened a new heavy vehicle inspection site in New South Wales.
22 Agriculture equipment
Livestock and agriculture insight with the ALRTA and Bruce Rock Engineering.
26 Rigid bodies
Leopold Transport has deployed a new Scully RSV build.
28 Trailer builder
Australia’s trailer manufacturing industry is as strong as ever.
32 Axles & suspensions
BPW Transpec showcases its latest technology.
34 Lifting equipment
We take a look at Hydreco Hydraulics’ Brisbane Truck Show stand.
36 Trailer building materials/components
A showcase of the products and services that keep trailers on the move.
42 Hydraulics Showcase
Our annual listing of where you can source truck and trailer spec hydraulic equipment.
46 ALRTA
The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association has outlined its key focuses for the future.
48 Safety insight
Wickham Freight Lines has increased safety by fitting JOST’s Loc-Light fifth wheel sensor across its fleet.
50 Infrastructure spotlight
What you need to know about Australia’s biggest road projects this month.
52 World map
America’s road transport and logistics networks in light of tari s and Trump’s historic actions.
56 Fleet of the month
Minus 1 is preparing for several interstate expansion projects.
58 What’s on Upcoming shows and field days.
CoolWay Trans launches new PBS B-triple
National transport company, CoolWay Trans, has deployed a new Maxi-CUBE B-triple from Freighter Group.
The Performance-Based Standards (PBS) B-triple has been dedicated to the fleet’s Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) for the transport of refrigerated goods.
It recently completed a successful trial run from Sydney to Perth and has since bolstered CoolWay Trans’ Sydney to Brisbane corridor.
“The new B-triple gives us a lot more flexibility,” CoolWay Trans CEO, Sunny Ahmed, told Trailer
“We can load the first B trailer with confectionary, the second one with meat and chilled goods and the rear trailer with ice cream – all at the same temperature with Carrier Transicold refrigeration units.
“That was the whole idea behind this new combination.”
The new B-triple features a Gross Combination Mass (GCM) of 83.6 tonnes and a payload of around 44 tonnes.
It has been coupled to a new Euro 6 Volvo FH16 prime mover which has significantly improved fuel economy and carbon emissions.
“We’re trying to cut the operating costs across fuels, emissions and tolls while still delivering what we promise,” Ahmed said.
“The fuel economy of the combination is unbelievable. We’re getting around 1.7 kilometres per litre.”
The trailer combination joins four other Maxi-CUBE B-triples in the fleet. They are about to be met with another B-double as well.
According to Ahmed, these PBS units have allowed CoolWay Trans to increase payloads while simultaneously reducing the number of trucks it puts on the road.
“We’re moving a lot more freight with less equipment,” he said.
“We’ve taken a B trailer off the road by adding two B-triples into the fleet, and by running three triples a night in our Sydney to Brisbane run, we’re taking an extra B-double set out.
“We’re trying to offset our carbon footprint and removing one extra truck off the road every night has made a major impact.”
Ahmed said Freighter Group was chosen for the latest instalment due to the longstanding relationship between both companies.
“Freighter has been with us since day one when I bought my very first trailer,” he said.
“They’re very easy to deal with. We’re a family-owned business and they treat us like we’re family.
“We’re very happy with how the trailers have been going. The PBS permit is a massive financial benefit to us, and we’re looking forward to investing in additional B-triples to save more in operating costs.”
Gold Tiger Logistics Solutions unveils expansion
National transport and logistics company, Gold Tiger Logistics Solutions, has announced its expansion into Queensland.
The business will be growing its operations into the state with a new dynamic and environmentally friendly distribution centre.
The new facility will feature a warehouse with capacity for over 8,000 rack spaces and an expansive transport hub.
According to Gold Tiger Logistics Solutions, the location will provide the business with a series of operational benefits.
“This new facility strengthens our
integrated logistics model and reinforces our commitment to delivering smarter, more efficient and scalable solutions for our customers,” Gold Tiger Logistics Solutions said.
With construction now underway, the new facility is expected to be open in September this year.
Skel trailers
Evolution side tippers
Road train dollies
Flat tops, drop decks
Deck wideners and extendables
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De Bruyn’s Transport marks 60th anniversary
Tasmanian transport company, De Bruyn’s Transport, is celebrating its 60th anniversary.
De Bruyn’s Transport has provided transport services for Tasmania’s mining industry since commencing operations on 1 April 1965.
It entered the industry by carting for the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company and later for the Renison Tin Mine.
The De Bruyn family behind the business has more than 100 years of transport heritage.
This dates back to Holland in 1910 when the great grandfather of John de Bruyn purchased a boat to transport sand, gravel and heating fuel along
the inland waterways.
He passed away at the age of 37 in 1924 and his three eldest sons continued the family business to support the rest of the family.
The brothers’ fleet had grown to seven trucks just before World War II, but the German army force confiscated the vehicles because the family refused to work on Germany’s behalf.
After the death of the eldest son, John, in 1956, the three families separated – with one migrating to Tasmania and eventually buying a local transport company, West Coast Transport, which serviced the mining communities on the west coast of the island.
The two remaining families followed in 1978 and took over West Coast Transport.
In 2005, the business was renamed and became De Bruyn’s Transport.
“In 2025, De Bruyn’s Transport proudly celebrates 60 years of service in Tasmania and beyond,” De Bruyn’s Transport said.
“While the big celebrations are still to come, today we’re excited to share the first look at our special 60-year logo – a symbol of six decades of hard work, family values, and being driven for decades.”
Bass Strait Transport, under the umbrella of Tasmania’s De Bruyn’s Transport, has been operating since 1998 with transport and freight forwarding solutions in and out of Victoria.
Australia Post opens new Melbourne automation facility
Australia Post has opened its new International Commercial Facility at Melbourne Airport.
The site, spanning 2,500 square metres, features advanced automation technology capable of sorting up to 6,000 parcels per hour.
The facility will support Australia Post’s growing international merchant customer base, replacing the manual sorting process used at the previous site and boosting parcel processing capacity by over 50 per cent.
Australia Post Executive General Manager Parcel, Post and eCommerce services, Gary Starr, said the new location highlights Australia Post’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of its large international customers.
“This upgrade is a key investment in our future operations and how we serve our international customers,” he said.
“With brand new automated sorting machines processing up to 6,000 parcels per hour, we’re able to handle more
parcels, reduce touch points and manual handling, improve safety, increase customer package visibility and get packages to customers faster.
“This facility positions us well to support the future of global e-commerce and continue to deliver a reliable, high standard of service for our customers.”
Located on Sky Road, the facility has also been designed with sustainability at the forefront.
It features optimised linehaul and transport routing to reduce carbon emissions as well
as enhanced waste management systems to improve recycling efficiency for materials such as cardboard and plastic.
The Sky Road facility will also have a dedicated area for parcel inspection by the Australian Border Force and the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry teams.
This is Australia Post’s second location with a fully automated system for the international commercial delivery service, following the installation at Sydney Gateway Facility in October 2023.
Image: De Bruyn’s Transport.
Image: Australian Post.
Toll to open its largest facility in Australia
Works on the 68,000-square-metre site for Toll Group are complete.
With an investment of $75 million in automation, the facility will create 200 new roles in Western Sydney and is reported to be Toll’s largest facility in the country to date.
Supply chain consultancy, TMX Transform, said the Kemps Creek facility is a strategic investment in sustainability, achieving a prestigious 6 Star Green Star – Design & As Built v1.3 rating that includes 600 kW of solar power and 15 electric vehicle charging bays.
“TMX is proud to have supported this landmark development across property procurement, automation assurance and project management,” said TMX Transform.
“Thank you to ESR Group, Richard Crookes Constructions and all project partners who helped bring it to life.”
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Röhlig boosts contract logistics in Melbourne
Logistics company, Röhlig Australia, has moved into a 18,500-squaremetre warehouse and office near Melbourne Airport to bolster its service capabilities.
The warehouse features 17,500 pallet positions which provide greater inventory control as well as space for other value-added services.
“We are excited about this expansion which represents a significant investment in the future of Röhlig Australia,” Mat Vermeulen, Managing Director of Röhlig Australia, said in a statement last year when the project was unveiled.
“Our new Melbourne warehouse will leverage the latest technology and our extensive expertise to deliver unparalleled service to our clients.”
Röhlig can enable rapid delivery of goods and improve overall supply chain efficiency due to the facility’s proximity to Melbourne Airport.
Primary Connect announces new Woolworths NSW DC
Construction is officially underway on Woolworths Group’s new chilled and fresh distribution centre (DC) in Eastern Creek, New South Wales.
Marking the next significant milestone in Primary Connects’ national supply chain transformation, the 93,000-squaremetre facility is reportedly set to become the Southern Hemisphere’s largest temperature-controlled DC.
Strategically located at the intersection of the M4 and M7, it will process over 6,000 tonnes of produce daily.
“Last week, we were proud to welcome NSW Deputy Premier, Prue Car MP,
along with Dr Hugh McDermott MP, State Member for Prospect, and Councillor Brad Bunting, Mayor of Blacktown City Council, to mark the beginning of this flagship project – reaffirming our commitment to delivering the freshest produce to customers across New South Wales,” Primary Connect said.
“This future-focused centre is a gamechanger for fresh food logistics – built to deliver faster, fresher produce to millions of customers across NSW.”
The project is expected to create more than 4,000 construction jobs and 700 permanent roles by mid-2027.
Dean Amos joins Muve Logistics
Transport and logistics company, Muve Logistics, has appointed Dean Amos as its new National Transport Manager.
Muve Logistics is a family-owned and operated business which was founded in 2016.
It specialises in a wide array of service offerings and tailored solutions which meet the unique requirements of customers.
These include B2B and B2C deliveries, cold chain refrigerated transport, in-home deliveries, last-mile Transport Management System integrations and more.
Amos joins Muve Logistics as National Transport Manager with a background in similar roles.
In his previous position of Transport Manager at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (November 2021 to March 2025), Amos was responsible for managing the business’ transport operations across Victoria and Tasmania.
He also possesses prior experience in warehouse and inventory management roles across retail and fast-moving consumer goods.
Amos told Trailer he is excited to join the Muve Logistics team.
“My approach is to always look for efficiencies and do what is right for clients by exploring opportunities for consolidation and addressing inefficiencies,” he said.
“I look forward to focusing on continual long-term growth with the business and our partners as we will continue to be an extension of our customers’ brands.”
Amos will primarily be responsible for managing transport performance and operations of the business.
Continuous improvement initiatives, data analysis on customers and carriers, forecasting and project support and implementation will also be key focuses.
“Our commitment is to continuously move at the pace of our customers by providing superior value across supply chains,” Amos said.
“I’m excited to continue to build our foundation and to be a leading force in the logistics and supply chain industry.”
Baxters customers and operators of vehicles should immediately stop using the affected product or vehicle that has been fitted with an affected product and arrange a refund or replacement with a similar product, where available.
Affected products that have not been fitted to vehicles may be returned to the point of purchase for a full refund.
Operators of vehicles installed with the product, should stop using the product and / or vehicle that has the fitted with the affected product, and contact their point of purchase to arrange a refund or replacement with a similar product, where available.
Baxters customers should contact Baxters immediately to organise return of affected products and a full refund, or replacemen
ng dpsswitch@baxters.com.au at any time
Baxters customers should also check their stock to see if they hold any affected products that have not been fitted to vehicles.
Why the product is recalled: Testing has indicated that susceptible to water ingress, inconsistent with the labelled protection rating. Water ingress may cause the product to fail.
Hazard: If the product fails while the vehicle is in motion it may pose an accident risk to the vehicle, occupants and other road users.
Image: Muve Logistics.
Dean Amos.
Bob Martin announces retirement
JOST Australia National Training Manager, Bob Martin, has announced his retirement after 30 years of dedicated service in the transport industry.
Martin joined JOST in 2001 as Branch Manager for Brisbane – a role he held for 17 years before being appointed National Training Manager in 2018.
Prior to his arrival at JOST, Martin was a sales representative at BPW Transpec from 1995.
Martin has amassed many achievements and has seen a lot of changes during his 30 years in the transport industry.
One of his greatest achievements was spearheading JOST’s Brisbane relocation into its current Wacol facility.
While employed at JOST, Martin was also an active member of the Commercial Vehicle Industry Association of Queensland (CVIAQ) which later became Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA).
After joining the CVIAQ board and becoming President, he was involved in a number of crucial decisions including its transition into a national association.
Martin was recognised for his contribution to the transport industry in 2021 by receiving the HVIA’s Industry Recognition Award, something he is extremely proud of.
He has contributed to a number of other industry associations during his time in the industry such as the Queensland Trucking Association, the Australian Trucking Association, ARTSA-i and the Commercial Vehicle Industry Association of Australia.
Martin has also collaborated with a number of state and territory-based Police and transport enforcement bodies by providing training and technical advice on the JOST product range.
“Whilst Bob has retired from JOST to spend time with his family and enjoy the
great outdoors, he’ll ease into this,” said JOST General Manager of Sales and Marketing, Corey Povey.
“Bob’s passion for the industry is still alive and well. You might see him on the road moving some equipment around amongst other things.
“We at JOST wish Bob all the very best for wherever his future may take him and we look forward to continuing a strong and healthy relationship with this transport industry icon.”
Khali
Lake joins Robuk Engineering
Robuk Engineering has appointed Khali Lake as its new CEO. Lake brings over 15 years of experience in the heavy vehicle manufacturing and transport industry to the business.
In his previous role at Centurion he served as Executive General Manager of Operational Services for close to two years.
He’s also held roles at The Drake Group, JB Attachments and other companies of the sort.
Fremantle Ports makes leadership appointments
Fremantle Ports has announced two new appointments on its executive leadership team.
Tully Barnes has been named as the company’s new General Manager, Operations, and Paolo De Carolis as General Manager, Major Projects.
Fremantle Ports currently has a range of major asset investments planned for the years ahead at its Kwinana Bulk Terminal and Kwinana Bulk Jetty precincts which will reportedly represent a ‘once in a century’ investment in the port and Western Australian economy.
De Carolis will be responsible for ensuring Fremantle Ports can deliver on these significant investment programs
– specifically on projects exceeding $100 million.
Barnes brings a strong technical and multifunctional background in the maritime industry to his role in the midst of these investments.
Fremantle Ports General Manager, Commercial and Customer, Jamie Allardice, was pleased to welcome both new team members to the business.
“Paolo and Tully are actively observing all aspects of the organisation as they settle into their new roles,” he said.
“Fremantle Ports will benefit from their considerable experience, and I look forward to introducing our new leaders to you at our next stakeholder event.”
Bob Martin. Image: JOST Australia.
Mineral Resources releases Q3 FY25 report
Mineral Resources (MinRes) experienced a variety of strong performances and shortfalls over Q3 of financial year 2025 as demonstrated in its latest financial report.
MinRes reported a liquidity value of over $1.25 billion, comprising more than $450 million in cash and a fully undrawn $800 million revolving credit facility.
Net debt as of 31 March was $5.4 billion.
Movements over the quarter were driven largely by a capex outflow of $360 million and net working capital outflow of $50 million.
Another $340 million in capex outflow is expected in Q4 FY25 while Q4 FY25 net working capital outflow is expected to be similar.
MinRes also continued to deliver on its prepayment obligations for the Onslow Iron carry loan during the quarter. As of 31
March, the balance was recorded at $789 million.
Cost reduction initiatives are also continuing throughout the business.
There has been a reduction of 1,740 roles across head office and sites since the start of FY25.
Meanwhile, the company’s mining services experienced a deficit with quarterly production volumes being recorded at 72 million tonnes (Mt).
This figure was 6Mt down quarter-onquarter due to reduced volumes from its Yilgarn Hub and Bald Hill sites, partially offset by external volume growth.
FY25 production volumes are expected to be at the bottom end of the company’s guidance range (280-300Mt) and weighted to the June quarter in line with the ramp-up of Onslow Iron.
FY25 earnings before interest, taxes,
DSV closes Schenker acquisition
Transport and logistics company, DSV, has completed the acquisition of Schenker from Deutsche Bahn for approx. $25 billion.
The acquisition, finalised on 30 April, will result in the creation of a world-leading player in the transport and logistics industry.
It is also the largest transaction in DSV’s history, doubling its size and significantly
enhancing its global network, expertise and competitive edge across its three divisions.
The combined entity will have a workforce of close to 160,000 employees based across more than 90 countries.
“With the completion of the acquisition of Schenker, we have reached a milestone in the history of DSV,” said DSV CEO, Jens Lund.
depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) per production volume tonne is anticipated to be $2.10 to $2.20.
Total iron ore production across Onslow Iron and the Pilbara Hub was 6.0 million wet metric tonnes (wmt), with shipments of 5.9M wmt.
The average quarterly realised price across both Onslow Iron and the Pilbara Hub was $89 USD (approx. $139.41 AUD) per dry metric tonne (dmt), a six-percent increase quarter-on-quarter and representing an 86 per cent realisation of the Platts 62 per cent Platts Iron Ore Index (IODEX).
The upgrade of the Onslow Iron haul road remains on schedule for completion in Q1 FY26.
Onslow Iron remains on track to achieve nameplate capacity of 25 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) in Q1 FY26.
“We have been looking forward to completing the transaction and I am excited to welcome our new colleagues to the DSV organisation.
“With this acquisition, we become a world-leading player in global transport and logistics, at a time when global supply chains are more in focus than ever before, and our customers need a reliable and agile global network of services and products.
“By combining the two companies we will create a unique, flexible platform for longterm financial growth to the benefit of our customers, employees, shareholders and other stakeholders.”
Schenker CEO Jochen Thewes said: “We are happy to complete this important milestone, and we are looking forward to joining forces with DSV.
“The dialogue throughout the last months has been very positive and we are very excited about the prospects of the combined business.
“DSV and Schenker are a strong match with many similarities in business models and services, shared values and high operational standards, and we look forward to getting to work.”
Tasmania’s Burnie Port secures long-term freight deal
TasPorts and Strait Link have signed a Heads of Agreement.
The agreement outlines key commercial terms for a lease of up to 30 years, providing long-term confidence for industry and supporting future investment in port infrastructure.
This will support the continued reliability of Tasmania’s Bass Strait freight services and ensure the Port of Burnie remains a cornerstone of Tasmania’s freight and logistics network.
“This agreement ensures Tasmania’s supply chain remains strong, sustainable and competitive into the future,” said
Tasmanian Minister for Infrastructure, Kerry Vincent.
“Strait Link transports a significant portion of the overnight Bass Strait freight volume, making it a vital contributor to Tasmania’s transport network.
“This agreement ensures our exporters, manufacturers and regional communities continue to have access to reliable, daily freight services and is a major step toward securing the future of Tasmania’s supply chain.”
According to the Tasmanian Government, the agreement also reflects a transition to TasPorts’ standardised
Schedule of Port Charges, supporting sustainable pricing and consistency across port users.
“This agreement is a strong vote of confidence in Tasmania’s future economic growth and ensures TasPorts and Strait Link are better positioned to invest in the long-term infrastructure that Tasmania needs to stay competitive,” Vincent said.
“I’d like to congratulate TasPorts and Strait Link on working so constructively and professionally to achieve an outcome in the best interests of Tasmanians.”
Final terms are expected to be completed by mid-2025.
Boral completes acquisition
Construction materials company, Boral, is poised for future growth following its latest investment in Victoria.
Boral has acquired a Wallan Concrete plant in Victoria approximately 45 kilometres north of Melbourne which will reportedly provide the company with strategic capability to service customers in an identified growth corridor.
This acquisition also sees the continued employment of skilled workers as they transfer to Boral.
As part of this transfer, the employees at Wallan Concrete were welcomed to the Boral team with a range of activities,
including a welcome lunch and a visit from various Boral executives.
According to Boral Executive General Manager – Concrete & Quarries South, Matt McKenzie, the acquisition complements Boral’s existing concrete batching plant and quarry at Wollert.
“We know the long-term growth projection in Melbourne, particularly to the north, is strong, and Wallan Concrete’s proximity to the market, adjacent to the Hume Freeway, makes it well-positioned to service existing and future customers,” he said.
“The plant is practically brand new
Toll opens new Western Australia location
Toll Group has announced the grand opening of it new fuels site in Port Hedland, Western Australia.
The new 22,000-square-metre facility provides the fleet with a stronger footprint in the region to support future growth.
It also features enhanced facilities such as a four-bay workshop, 20-metre underground service bay and upgraded driver and office facilities.
Toll Group Regional Manager West –Fuels & Gases – Resources and Industrials, Clinton Davey, said the fuels site gives the company a stronger footprint to support future growth.
“This new facility really establishes a
new footprint for Toll in the greater Port Hedland region,” he said.
“We have our existing contracts and customers that we service from the region currently, but we’re really set up for future growth here.”
The facility is being used to service around 18 of the fleet’s tanker combinations – 12 of which are operating on the coast and the remaining six in its site-based operations.
“We are operating in some pretty harsh conditions out of Port Hedland in the sites that we service,” Davey said.
“A lot of it’s unsealed and we are coming out of wet season now.”
and we’re very excited to have this great asset now part of our integrated operations and its potential to supply key projects in the Melbourne North region.
“What is also important is that we are today welcoming new employees to the Boral team.”
The Wallan Concrete facility, which operates six days a week on freehold land, features a dry batch concrete plant, four cementitious silos, 10 raw material ground bins, a modern office with driver facilities and undercover truck parking.
Davey said the Toll team took immense pride in celebrating the opening.
“It’s been quite a journey over the last three years from identifying this particular location and using the site and getting the most out of the site going forward,” he said.
“The team are really proud.
“We’re getting some really good feedback and they’re enjoying using the facility so far, so it’s really promising in terms of not only recognising the current staff working for us but giving us some improved opportunity with the trucking people moving forward as well.”
Paul Brown joins Bruce Rock Engineering
Bruce Rock Engineering has appointed Paul Brown as its new Head of Sales and Marketing.
Brown joins the business with 20 years
of experience in the mining and heavy equipment sectors.
His background includes business development positions across various companies such as Aurizon, Caterpillar, Komatsu, General Electric and Orica.
He has also held several roles throughout Canada and the United States.
As Bruce Rock Engineering’s new Head of Sales and Marketing, Brown will focus on understanding current industry trends and steering development accordingly to best service the business’ customers.
“My goal is to help Bruce Rock Engineering with its national focus,” he told Trailer “I want to take my global experience in large manufacturing and bring it into
Cameron Dunn joins Hall of Fame
FBT Transwest Managing Director, Cameron Dunn, has been recognised for his passion and dedication to safety.
At the third annual Chemistry Australia Industry Awards, Dunn was presented with a Hall of Fame accolade, sponsored by Holmwood Highgate, to celebrate his enormous contribution to industry.
Organisations and individuals from across the Australian chemistry industry were recognised for their outstanding efforts to demonstrate leadership and address some of Australia’s most pressing challenges, such as reducing carbon emissions, increasing the circularity of supply chains and improving the inclusiveness and health and safety of workplaces.
The event was held Thursday 8 May 2025 at the Grand Hyatt in Melbourne Dunn is currently the longest standing Board Member at Chemistry Australia. He was appointed in 2007 and has been the Chair of the Chemistry Australia Finance and Risk Management Sub-Committee since 2016.
“Cameron has been instrumental to the governance and success of our Association,” Chemistry Australia said in a statement.
“He provides enormous support to Chemistry Australia, particularly in the area of membership, and has been actively
involved in measures to recruit new members to our Association. This includes the newly created category of Personal Membership, due to his recognition of the value of membership in today’s industrial landscape.
“Cameron is a champion of the Industry Awards, providing support and encouragement to ensure the industry’s annual event is a success and celebrates the achievements of members.
“Cameron is a dedicated advocate for safety. Cameron is a principled practitioner of Responsible Care and is highly regarded for his deep understanding of industry, and his work with regulators to help businesses manage risk and implement good practice in the workplace.
“Cameron has also received accolades for his work and tireless dedication to the transport and logistics industry.”
Chemistry Australia is the pre-eminent national body representing the Australian chemistry industry, one of the largest manufacturing sectors in the country. The industry supports more than 240,000 full time jobs and contributes more than $48 billion to Australia’s GDP.
Last year, Dunn was awarded the WFD Chalmers Award for his dedication, loyalty and commitment to the Victorian Transport Association.
Bruce Rock Engineering to help them grow in a sustainable way.”
Brown explained that he is also looking forward to working with a local trailer builder.
“What excites me is the ability to assist a quality Australian manufacturer,” he said.
“I have worked at companies that manufacture very good quality equipment, but very little of it is made in Australia.
“Bruce Rock Engineering manufacture locally and is right up there among the best in the industry, if not the best.
“I think they’re a quality manufacturer with some very well-designed products and I’m looking forward to assisting them by establishing sustainable growth strategies and business development strategies.”
Dunn has made several contributions to the transport industry through his past and current roles at the VTA, as well as his positions as Deputy Chairman at the National Bulk Tanker Association (NBTA) and Board Member at Chemistry Australia.
Dunn joined accredited Dangerous Goods and food transporter, FBT Transwest, as Managing Director in 2009 and continues to lead the company in this position.
Prior to this, he held senior roles within the transport and logistics industry in a career that commenced in 1986 at United Tankers.
Paul Brown. Image: Prime Creative Media.
Cameron Dunn. Image: Chemistry Australia.
NSW opens $11M heavy vehicle inspection site
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has opened a new heavy vehicle inspection site in New South Wales.
A new Heavy Vehicle Safety Station (HVSS) – based 5.5 kilometres east of Ballimore between Dubbo and Dunedoo along the Golden Highway – is now operational.
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, which is operating it, said the HVSS is expected to deliver a safety boost for the key freight route.
“The Ballimore HVSS will require all
heavy vehicles travelling along the Golden Highway to enter the HVSS when directed,” the NHVR said in a statement.
“The HVSS operating hours and staffing levels will vary to match traffic patterns but can operate up to 24 hours a day, at peak times including weekends and public holidays.
“The HVSS sites are fitted with safety software which can determine a heavy vehicle’s registration status and defect status, while also accessing Safe-T-Cam sightings that along with the driver’s work diary, can assist with monitoring driver fatigue.”
All heavy vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) greater than 4.5 tonnes travelling on the Golden Highway will be required to enter the HVSS when directed, according to Transport for NSW, to ensure the vehicle meets safety and roadworthiness standards and the driver is complying with road transport laws.
Transport for NSW Executive Director Road Safety Regulation, Duncan Lucas, said the new station would enforce heavy vehicle safety regulations, reducing overloading, fatigue-related crashes and the risk of non-compliant vehicles travelling to Dubbo.
“Work on the new safety station started in May 2023 and following some construction delays due to waterlogged ground from flooding and complications in accessing and installing some of the Intelligent Transport System, ITS, components, the station is now operational,” said Lucas.
“The NHVR uses the network of Heavy Vehicle Safety Stations to intercept and inspect heavy vehicles which may be operating illegally or in an unsafe manner on NSW roads and may pose significant risk to road users, the road infrastructure and the environment.
“The new facility at Ballimore is the 10th HVSS in NSW and its opening is an important milestone in improving safety
The site is fitted with safety software which can determine a heavy vehicle’s registration status and defect status.
Images: National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.
for all motorists travelling long distances on roads and highways across regional NSW.”
The other sites include:
• Mt Boyce (Great Western Highway)
• Mt White (northbound and southbound on the M1 Motorway)
• Marulan (northbound and southbound on the Hume Highway)
• Twelve Mile Creek (Pacific Highway)
• Chinderah (Pacific Highway)
• Pine Creek (Pacific Highway)
• Halfway Creek (Pacific Highway)
• Bell (Bells Line of Road)
• Kankool (New England Highway)
In 2023, Transport for NSW said this project formed part of a jointly funded $23.7 million commitment under the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program (HVSPP). At the time, the Federal Government committed $3.7 million, while the State Government committed $3.3 million.
“This inspection station is one of many HVSPP projects increasing safety and reliability for the trucking industry across Australia while enhancing access and improve freight transport through local rural communities,” said Carol Brown, Federal Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, when the project was first announced.
NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Jennny Aitchison, added that heavy vehicle safety stations are an important part of Transport for NSW’s onroad enforcement program.
“There is a network of these heavy vehicle safety stations on major routes across the state which heavy vehicle inspectors use as a base to intercept
and inspect heavy vehicles to identify whether any may be operating illegally or in an unsafe manner on NSW roads,” she said.
Member for the NSW Legislative Council, Mark Banasiak, said the project blew out to $11 million.
He is critical about what appears to
be ‘a couple of portable sheds and a weigh pad’.
“Disappointing the government has prioritised investment in revenue raising over real measures that improve safety like improving rural road conditions and having well designed and adequate rest stops.”
The NHVR Dubbo Safety and Compliance O cer team at the new site.
Fight or flight
Byrne Trailers has been an integral part of the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association and its industry for over 40 years.
The heritage of Byrne Trailers is one that is very extensive and intertwined with the agricultural industry. The business, now one of transport’s most prominent trailer builders, was established on the back of Byrne Brothers Transport over 50 years ago.
In the early 1970s, brothers Laurence Michael (Mick) and Bill Byrne began their one-truck operation to start carting livestock in New South Wales. With a dream to make a difference, Mick and his other brother, Des, then went on to establish their own trailer building business (Byrne Trailers) in 1974.
Byrne Trailers manufactured its first fourdeck crate trailer in 1979. After building a new workshop in Peak Hill the following year to replace the small shed it was operating out of, its first monocoque 4x2 utility trailer followed suit. These early developments would propel both Byrne businesses well into the future.
By 1984, Byrne Trailers was building its own monocoque livestock trailers while the business began to rapidly expand. A new factory opened in Wagga Wagga in 1988 and the business opened its third manufacturing plant in Toowoomba, Queensland, in 1993.
The entity of Byrne Trailers and its production scale has since grown tremendously.
“We build around 120 livestock trailers a year,” says Byrne Trailers Executive Manager and son of Mick, David Byrne. “Around 70 to 80 per cent of our
production is livestock trailers and the rest is bulk trailers.”
Byrne Trailers has been at the forefront of the livestock industry ever since its inception. The business has revolutionised trailer manufacturing with designs such as cattle trailers which are made completely out of steel.
For over 40 years, Byrne Trailers has also been advocating for continuous innovation and improvement with the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA).
“My dad was a founding committee member of the ALRTA in NSW, so he was part of the inauguration of it all,” David says. “He was still carting livestock and his big push behind forming an association was to change the rules of road transport, especially around heights, because he was building four-deck trailers but the height restrictions were still at 4.3 metres.
“That’s when we first became involved with the ALRTA. We became one of their sponsors in 1988 when we exited the transport industry as an operator, and we sponsored their very first conference in NSW that same year.”
Byrne Trailers now supports the ALRTA in any way that it can. As a full-time national platinum sponsor, this includes providing its members with valuable information and working with government bureaucrats on better designs for safer equipment and Performance-Based
Standards (PBS) vehicles.
“If we don’t seek innovative ways and become more efficient in what we do, it will get to the point where overseas manufacturing could get us,” David says. “I’m pushing for a lot more innovation, but people have to embrace change.
“We have to be a part of what’s going to happen in the future and we need to get together as an industry to work these things out. There are opportunities now with bigger combinations going on the roads and greater access, but we’ve got to embrace technology and the places that we can go with it.
“The livestock industry is something that I want to be part of and lead from the front foot, and that’s why we support the ALRTA. We have to give back to the people in the industry because they’re the ones that feed us. We’re all in it together.”
The ALRTA has recently formed a PBS sub-committee to not only work on anomalies within the system but on trailer design with innovators such as Byrne Trailers going forward.
Contact Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association
Ph: 02 6247 5434
Web: www.alrta.org.au
Image: Byrne Trailers.
A Byrne Trailers 4x2 stainless steel B-triple.
Productivity in the pocket
Kianna Farms has invested in a new Bruce Rock Engineering pocket road train set of grain tippers to transport bulk agricultural products throughout Western Australia.
It was last August when Kianna Farms, a wheat and sheep farm in Burracoppin, Western Australia, was on the hunt for a new set of grain tippers. The business had two specific goals in mind – increasing tare weights and achieving higher payloads – and by investing in Bruce Rock Engineering (BRE) it went on to reap the rewards.
Kianna Farms owner, Jeremy Dean, and his wife, Anthea, first took over the home farm in 2021. It had already been operational by Anthea’s father since 1980 when he first purchased the farm himself. Since then, the whole operation has been fairly steady.
“We do crop and sheep work out here and hope that it rains,” Jeremy says.
Kianna Farms has been running a small fleet
including two prime movers and one grain tipper combination to transport bulk agricultural products for quite some time. But when the need for another combination arose, Jeremy identified BRE as the most suitable candidate and pulled the trigger. The result is a 27.5m tri-axle pocket road train set which, boasting an impressive low tare weight, is maximising payload capacity without compromising strength or durability.
“I bought these grain tippers because BRE is a local company that isn’t far from us,” he says. “I like things that are Australian-made, and their trailers are made in Perth. That’s why I got them. We’re a local business and we like to support local companies.”
The road train’s standard specs include Fuwa K Hitch KT suspension and PAN 19 disc brake axles, Alcoa wheels, driver monitoring systems and Right Weigh scales which have been essential to the business’ objective of getting as much
freight on board as possible.
“The Right Weigh scales are a big plus for us because we can maximise our weights while making sure that we’re doing the right thing,” Jeremy says.
Designed with the agricultural sector specifically in mind, BRE’s grain tippers offer superior payload efficiency, durability and ease of operation. The tipper bodies are manufactured with 3mm high-tensile Hardox steel which allows them to withstand the demands of harvest seasons while providing smooth unloading capabilities. Additionally, the trailers are manufactured with advanced designs which ensure structural integrity, optimal weight distribution and reduced maintenance needs.
Available in lengths from 9.1m to 10.5m and various suspension spreads to suit axle spacing requirements, the standard body height of each grain tipper is 2.0m.
This allows for cubic capacities of 42 to 52 cubic metres.
Jeremy’s grain tipper combination has been deployed to transport grain, gypsum and lime from the farm to paddocks and CBH Group’s depot in Merredin. He has been extremely satisfied with its performance in these operations.
“The road train travels between Merredin and Perth and it’s been spot-on,” he says. “They’re really good trailers. I believe BRE has a pretty good product which is built really strong.”
Its on-road performance has been nothing short of spectacular.
“It handles fantastically on the road,” Jeremy says. “It doesn’t move side to side or sway, it just sits there. The dolly is a spring setup with disc brakes and I spec’d it like that for that reason. It makes the back trailer sit nice and straight, so it’s a really good setup.”
The increase in productivity and efficiency has been a major advantage for Kianna Farms. As Jeremy explains, the higher payload has allowed him to transport more grain in less trips.
“I’m averaging probably five to six tonnes more than my last set,” he says. “I know how much to fill the trailers with the Right Weigh scales, and I know how much I can maximise them.
“The productivity has been a big benefit for us. If we do eight loads a day, we get 45 tonnes extra over the other set. That’s
basically one less load that we’d have to do each day.”
The grain tippers also excel in their tipping tasks by unloading all products thrown at them with ease.
“They’re great at unloading, especially with gypsum,” Jeremy says. “I carted a little bit gypsum at the start of the year and it came straight out which was fantastic. Gypsum can be a bit wet, but it slid out perfectly.
“So, the trailers are going really well. I haven’t experienced any product hang-up and they don’t sway or move when they’re up in the air either. They just lift straight up and the product comes out.”
BRE’s close proximity to Kianna Farms has also proved to be advantageous. For Jeremy, it meant that the order, delivery and aftersales support of the unit has been flawless.
“BRE has been great to work with,” he says. “They got back to me straight away when I first approached them, and that was something that stood out to me. I deal with Mitch Lang. He’s been fantastic.
“The quality of the product itself is no different. I’ve had no problems at all, I can’t fault it.”
Contact
Bruce Rock Engineering
15 Swan Street, WA 6418
Ph: 08 9061 1253
Web: www.brucerockengineering.com.au
Kianna Farms’ new 27.5m tri-axle pocket road train.
The grain tippers’ productivity and e ciency benefits have been instrumental to Kianna Farms.
Images: Bruce Rock Engineering.
Meating the standard
Leopold Transport’s new Scully RSV rigid body provides operational efficiency and versatility in an industry undergoing notable changes.
Leopold Transport has been in the cold chain logistics game for quite some time. Established in 1976 in Geelong, Victoria, the family business initially ran as a onetruck operation for local meat abattoir, MC Herd.
After transporting meat under this contract for several decades, Leopold Transport’s capabilities noticeably changed form. First, it was in 2000 with the purchase of a second truck, and then again in 2007 when second-generation family member, Glenn Murgatroyd, assumed the role of Director.
Leopold Transport has since grown to service more customers with greater transport power. The business now runs a 16-unit fleet which is powered by modern technology like GPS tracking systems as well as mass and fatigue management accreditations for safe and timely deliveries.
In recent times, Glenn has observed
a burgeoning trend in the market’s demand for meat products – one which is seemingly proposing changes to the way transporters operate.
“There’s been a lot of movement within the industry towards buying boxed meat directly from the abattoirs,” he explains. “That hadn’t been the case previously.
“Some places still require and order full carcass meat – like a corner butcher shop, but boxed meat has become much more common. We realised that we needed to follow the trend and cover both bases of delivery.”
This prompted Glenn to look at recruiting a new refrigerated body into the Leopold Transport fleet. After a casual conversation with a salesman at Scully RSV, the OEM was put on the transporter’s radar.
“I just happened to be talking to Dean Blair about something completely different, and I mentioned our hunt for meat bodies to him,” he says. “That’s when he told me
that Scully RSV builds them and that they can be bought as opposed to rented. The stars seemed to align.”
Glenn didn’t look back after this conversation. He engaged with Scully RSV’s engineering team to create a customised rigid body that could carry a mixture of meat to accommodate the varied demand in the space. Glenn already had many ideas for his build and utilised Scully RSV’s manufacturing experience to refine them.
“I had some very particular ideas for what the unit should look like based on my experience in the meat industry,” he says. “Being able to get involved in the design process and communicate my vision to Scully RSV’s engineers was a really important aspect of our collaboration.
“I think the engineers benefited from my perspective because they then knew what I wanted to build. We benefited as
well because the product we got ticked the boxes that we wanted.”
The end result is a rigid body which can comfortably transport Leopold Transport’s different forms of meat with two distinct segments. The front, reserved for boxed meat, was built with a side door for quick access and sufficient pallet space for easy storage. Meanwhile, the back of the body was spaciously designed for full animal carcass storage with features including meat hangers and extending quart doors.
Additionally, the body’s step setup was tweaked to accommodate the wear and tear it would experience in frequent delivery runs. Standard blue interior walls were also painted white to match the inside of other Leopold Transport builds –a personal preference of Glenn’s.
Glenn, having deployed this Scully RSV rigid body and two other slightly modified meat units in the fleet, is elated about servicing his customers with the
specific components of the body’s meticulous design.
“This rigid body is definitely versatile,” he says. “It’s a thing of the future and exactly the kind of build we were after. With its accommodating design and high thermal efficiency, we’re confident that it will ride the industry’s changes well.”
In addition to its lauded versatility, the rigid body also boasts a high physical durability which enables it to last longer through a greater number of harsh operating conditions. This factor is common among Scully RSV’s builds as the solution provider offers many rental units to the market which, as Glenn describes, are known for their toughness.
“We know this unit is built to last because it came from a rental solutions provider,” he says. “Rental bodies are usually put through the ringer when they’re used, so it’s no surprise that our
meat body is tough. This quality is going to make deliveries a lot easier.”
The durability of this meat unit is also maintained through Scully RSV’s available aftersales servicing capabilities which Glenn has taken up as needed to ensure his rigid body continues to serve as a breath of fresh air in the meat transport sector.
“This build is a combination of modern-day thinking with tried-and-true experience,” he says. “We’ve used a whole new set of information to create something that we think can last in the industry.
“Meat delivery may be a dying art, but with this unit, we’re putting some life back into the process.”
Contact
Scully RSV
Ph: 1800 728 559
Web: www.scullyrsv.com.au
Leopold Transport’s Scully RSV rigid body. Image: Leopold Transport.
The unit includes a series of custom features such as a tweaked step setup. Image: Scully RSV.
Coming up golden
Trailer sat down with The Drake Group at the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show to talk about its impressive trailer display which caught everyone’s attention.
After a bumper 2024 and showcasing a head-turning exhibition at this year’s Brisbane Truck Show, it’s fair to say that The Drake Group has the Midas touch. Especially if its Queensland production centre is turning out trailers with iconic names such as ‘Bling King’ and ‘The Queenslander’.
With a 4.9-tonne rotating O’Phee Trailers skel suspended vertically on its rear being a jaw-dropping feature of The Drake Group’s Brisbane Truck Show stand, you’d expect nothing less than a ‘wow factor’ to be delivered by the team. The Drake Group Director and Business Unit Manager – New Trailers, Sam Drake, said it came down to a simple wish that set the ball rolling to become the talk of the show.
“We were talking about which models we were going to bring and what theme we would be going for when Mick O’Phee said, ‘I’ve always wanted to put a trailer on its end’,” he explained at the Brisbane Truck Show. “But he didn’t just want it on its end. He wanted it to be rotating. It was definitely something different.”
The finished product didn’t disappoint.
“The rotating skel has been a massive wow factor,” Sam said. “Everyone that comes to the stand is telling me that it’s the best stand they’ve been on.”
Apart from having the requisite ‘wow factor’ that had everyone talking, the three-way container skel also represented what The Drake Group is ultimately all about.
“It’s an example of what we can do and where we take things to the next level,” Sam said. “We’re always looking at different innovations and different ways to skin a cat, so to speak.”
The man behind the suspended 42.5’ concept, Mick, said he wanted it to be a statement piece for the Brisbane Truck Show.
“We always have a very good stand each year where we elevate things to the next level, and we think this is the next level,” he said on the day. “We thought we would put the trailer on its end so that people can easily see how we build the underside of the main frame, how we finish it off and how quality-driven it is.
“Then we thought we would rotate it, so we designed and manufactured a base frame and incorporated a ball race electric motor to slowly turn it at 58 seconds per rotation.”
The Brisbane Truck Show was also the perfect opportunity for The Drake Group to showcase its updated O’Phee Queenslander model with a unit built for Heavy Haulage Assets.
“The Queenslander is a flat top trailer that that can do anything,” Mick said. “It’s a hamburger with the lot – custom built with extra toolboxes, heavy duty floor and a unique rear end which gives the operator more clearance when operating as a road train. It is built tough just like us Queenslanders.”
Just when visitors were coming to
terms with the spinning engineering feat above them, their eyes had to adjust to another coruscating vision before them – a Membrey’s Transport & Crane Hire 5x8 Swingwide Extendable known as ‘Bling King’. The Drake Group’s version, front and centre at its Brisbane Truck Show stand, is no ordinary beast of the road. Painted in ‘Regal Peacock’ and gold livery with ramps covered in glitter, it was as if a bigger, more brutish version of Priscilla Queen of the Desert was in Brisbane.
The Drake Group Director and Head of Finance, Maggie Nilson, said the trailer is another showstopper which was tailored to meet all of Membrey’s specifications.
“Anyone that knows Craig can attest to the fact that this is him all over,” she said at the Brisbane Truck Show. “Craig likes to make a statement, and this is very much a statement piece for him in his fleet.
“It’s exciting for us because it gives us the opportunity then to showcase what we can do best.”
The Drake Group also had a stack of trailers on display including a heavy duty O’Phee drop deck, 2x8 dolly, quad-axle Deck Widener, quad-axle Full Widener and an O’Phee Swinglift/BoXLoader trailer which were real-world examples of the business’ most popular units. But for all the bling and razzamatazz on show, The Drake Group also offered insight on a few more strings to its bow.
“The Brisbane Truck Show is also about Drake Collectibles, our After Sales Support
The Drake Group’s 2025 Brisbane Truck Show stand.
and Service and Repair division, our Rental department and our Parts and Engineering Services,” Sam explained. “So, it’s about flying the flag for all of these other business units as well.”
Maggie sees these various components of The Drake Group as providing a complete service to customers.
“We have the ability to service the customer and be there for them from the very beginning”, she said, “from when they want their transport solution fixed all the way until the aftermarket part of that whole process.”
This holistic approach to customer satisfaction is now further bolstered with The Drake Group’s new partnership with German trailer manufacturer, Goldhofer AG, which was announced just days before the gates to the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre opened.
“We saw an opportunity to partner with Goldhofer who are a like-minded company to us,” Sam said. “We’ll sell their product in Australia which will give our customers the opportunity to tap into that product line that we currently don’t offer – a different range of fully modular trailers, SelfPropelled Modular Transporters and other specialised products.”
Sam sees the Goldhofer arrangement as a long-term partnership, mutually adding value to both companies.
“There should be some good synergies between the two businesses,” he said. “We look forward to collaborating with them on different models and transport solutions.”
in the niche trailer rental sector which Sam sees as a future growth market.
“We’ve been offering this service to our customers either as medium- or longterm rentals while they’re waiting for their new trailer to come through,” he said. “It gets them into a trailer and keeps their customers happy while they’re waiting for a new trailer to get built.
“This bolsters the rest of what we do. There is also opportunity in the market for our rentals to enter the project space, whether that be the oil and gas, mining or construction sectors.”
There is also the company’s expanding service and repairs offerings out of the Richlands location.
“This is a significant growth area for us,” Sam said. “We’ve been building it slowly over time and focusing on general service, repairs and maintenance, but also doing major rebuilds and refurbishments.”
With several developments in place, Maggie said The Drake Group has a firm
grip on the road ahead.
“We’ve been spending a lot of time laying the foundations for growth and setting ourselves up to be able to service all of our customers,” she said. “We want to focus on general continuous improvement and systemisation, ensuring that we’re the most efficient that we can be.
“It’s a challenging market being in Australian manufacturing, but we want to be here for the long term.”
According to Sam, an ongoing focus on efficiency will be paramount.
“Our focus on efficiencies goes hand in hand with what we do as Australian manufacturers,” he said. “We continue to scrutinise our costs by managing rising material and labour costs across the industry and absorbing what we can through efficient manufacturing and organisation.”
For The Drake Group, it’s a non-stop approach to business growth. The Goldhofer deal adds to its investment Contact The Drake Group 19 Formation Street Wacol, QLD 4076
An important factor in The Drake Group maintaining its success-based growth will be appearances at future editions of the Brisbane Truck Show.
“It’s pretty amazing being here,” Sam explained. “We invested significant time and resources to be here and really showcase the best of the best of what we do.
“A huge thank you to all involved is definitely in order, from our staff at Drake to the event organisers, our suppliers and of course, most importantly, our customers.”
Ph: 07 3271 5888
Web: www.thedrakegroup.com.au
Images: The Drake Group.
O’Phee Queenslander built for Heavy Haulage Assets.
Membrey’s Transport & Crane Hire’s 5x8 Swingwide Extendable.
Trailer builder
Live action
Haulmark Trailers’ live bottom trailer has proven to be a gamechanger in S.A.M Tipper and Equipment Hire’s operations throughout South Australia.
Haulmark Trailers attended the Brisbane Truck Show last month to showcase its live bottom trailer model to the market. This was a key moment in itself as it was the first time Haulmark Trailers exhibited at the event since the turn of the century.
The trailer made quite the impression. Attendees and visitors, according to Haulmark Trailers, were eager to see the innovation on display in person. Meanwhile, it’s also been making strides in real-world applications behind the scenes.
S.A.M Tipper and Equipment Hire (S.A.M) is one of the first fleets that has been reaping the benefits of the product in its operations. The construction company based in Adelaide, South Australia, started off in 2017 with tipper trailers to complete rural road works throughout the state. But as time went on and contract work for governments and local departments grew, the business recognised that moving floor trailers would be a better suit for its operations due to the safety and efficiency
benefits they could offer over traditional tippers. Thus, S.A.M’s live bottom fleet began to grow.
“We went from one truck up to eight and from one live bottom trailer up to four,” says S.A.M Director, Kai Mitchell. “A lot of people are going for live bottoms due to the safety aspect so we’ve been progressing to them as well.”
Kai first came across Haulmark Trailers’ new live bottom trailer last year. He saw it from a distance at the OEM’s SA facility
S.A.M Tipper and Equipment Hire’s live bottom being loaded with sand at Adbri Cement’s plant in Birkenhead, South Australia.
and instantly wanted to find out more about it.
“I was driving past Haulmark Trailers and I saw it out the front,” he says. “I thought I’d give it a good look-over, so I went in to see it and to speak to the guys there.
“It looked amazing. It was clear that it had high-quality running gear and parts, so I bought it from them.”
The trailer itself is made up of a Gincor Werx Hardox 450 steel plate body with fully insulated walls. It features Haulmark
Trailers componentry and a two-ply conveyor belt system which, as Kai attests to, can unload bulk products effortlessly and efficiently.
“We were pretty impressed with the belt speed once we hooked the trailer up to our truck,” he says. “It can unload 28.5 tonnes in a minute and a half.
“It’s been a great unit all around because it does everything that we need it to do. There’s nothing I could fault about it.”
The conveyor belt system itself can move both forwards and in reverse. This not only reduces the chances of product getting stuck but also allows things to be moved around or emptied out of the back with the push of a button.
The live bottom trailer is also incorporated with a bunch of safety features as standard. For Kai, the safety indicators at the rear of the trailer have been most beneficial as they provide information on the unit’s operational status at all times.
“They tell you everything that’s happening,” he says. “There are four lights at the back and they will light up for different things, like if the rear tailgate is locked or unlocked or if the belt is engaged.
“You can see them in the rear-view mirror and you can then operate the features from inside the cab with a remote. So, it removes a lot of the guesswork that you might have to do.”
Another key aspect of the trailer is its ability to maintain temperatures during transit. This is primarily due to its fullyinsulated body which was designed to keep asphalt, bitumen and other products heated in transport. This has been instrumental to S.A.M’s long transport journeys.
“It’s very good at keeping its temperature,” Kai says. “This has got a lot to do with the insulated body as well as the tarp system which is really tight and waterproof.”
The live bottom trailer is also very userfriendly and therefore doesn’t require a lot of training to be operated. Additionally, it’s very easy to clean and maintain due to the flush-mounted rear tailgate design which minimises the buildup of product during use.
At S.A.M, the unit has been on quite a few excursions since its arrival.
“We’ve done all of the Lincoln Highway with it,” Kai says. “This involved 200 kilometres of shoulder widening all the
way from Tumby Bay and back towards Port Augusta. We’ve also used it for lots of asphalt works up around Port Augusta on the Augusta Highway. We were running it 24/7 there.”
It’s now being used to feed Adbri Cement’s Birkenhead plant with a variety of bulk products.
“Adbri Cement was looking to eliminate any sort of risk of units tipping over or touching sheds in tight spaces, so we showed them what we could do with our Haulmark trailer,” Kai says. “It’s since moved there full-time. It’s working five days a week and up to 24 hours a day keeping their concrete plant topped up with all sorts of aggregates, sand and whatever else they need.”
Kai says the safety and efficiency aspects really stand out in these operations.
“There’s no risks of tip-overs or us touching powerlines,” he says. “We were always having to watch out for power lines and adjust our operations accordingly with tippers, but we’ve now eliminated that with the live bottom trailer. It’s more efficient and safer for us because we have to instantly shut down the operation if any of those two things happen.”
Haulmark Trailers’ live bottom trailer has made an extremely effective debut at S.A.M. Kai hands it to the nature of the unit and its various features included as well as the aftersales support which has made the entire experience seamless.
“Haulmark Trailers are great to deal with,” he says. “They go above and beyond. They’re always willing to help, and they move really quick when they do.
“Haulmark Trailers has great workmanship and attention to detail, even with the little things. We’re impressed with them just as much as we’re impressed with their product.”
Kai is now planning S.A.M’s next move ahead and is hoping to deploy the Haulmark Trailers live bottom in road train configurations.
“We want to start moving into some bigger gear again, so we’d love to have a road train or a double setup,” he says. “We do quite long hauls, and making them even more efficient by getting more product to the location in one hit is definitely something that we’re aiming for.”
Contact
Haulmark Trailers
Ph: 07 3277 3666
Web: www.haulmark.com.au
Image: S.A.M Tipper and Equipment Hire.
Axles & suspensions
Step right up
BPW Transpec’s innovative 2025 Brisbane Truck Show product display highlighted an extreme commitment towards efficiency and safety.
The Brisbane Truck Show is a significant event on the transport industry’s calendar which provides manufacturers and operators with one dedicated space to see the latest technology that the sector has to offer. For OEMs, the event is the perfect opportunity to reveal product ranges, upcoming innovations and new announcements – something that BPW Transpec has used to its advantage for many years.
BPW Transpec has been an active player in the Australian market for over 65 years and has thus headlined many Brisbane Truck Show events. Speaking to Trailer at the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show, BPW Transpec Engineering Manager, Ian Thomson, said these shows have always streamlined communications between customers and producers.
“From our point of view, the Brisbane Truck Show acts as a great central point for the market,” he said at the OEM’s stand. “We get a great amount of people from all over the industry and country coming to visit us.
“The show creates an environment where customers can touch and feel what they’re going to be buying. They can see our product range up close and enjoy a direct
view of the upgrades and developments we’re making, and that’s important to us.”
This year’s Brisbane Truck Show served as a platform for BPW Transpec to showcase a large range of key products. Headlining its stand was the ePower axle, an innovation which is new to the Australian market but has already found success in the European and South African sectors.
Created in partnership with North American refrigeration technology manufacturer, Thermo King, the ePower axle has been designed to generate electrical power while the trailers it is attached to is being driven. Once generated, this power is then used to recharge a battery pack mounted under
the semi-trailer’s body. Additionally, the device’s power unit has been programmed to determine when the axle should generate power and when to feed it back to the battery, making it self-regulating.
As Ian explained, the ePower axle’s autonomous power regulation aims to deliver benefits to operators looking to reduce carbon emissions in a time when the industry is becoming increasingly aware of the importance of sustainability.
“This axle addresses the need to reduce diesel power usage on standard fridge motors in the space,” he said. “This power generation will help fleets deliver a better CO2 footprint, something which is now a critical goal for many operators.”
The ePower axle also runs quietly,
Images: BPW Transpec.
ePower axle next to the new Ringfeder 404 coupling.
BPW Transpec’s Brisbane Truck Show stand.
enabling operators to deliver products to locations that are more sensitive to noise during the night such as supermarkets within more metropolitan areas.
BPW Transpec’s ePower axle was joined by a new innovation, the 404 Ringfeder coupling, which will be released into the Australian market in the first quarter of 2026.
“It’s a product that we’re constantly working with Ringfeder and VBG on to develop into our market,” Ian said. “It’s now got some additional features and more serviceable components in it which allow operators to change out the bushes and mouth of the coupling quite a bit easier than previous generations.
“There have also been upgrades directed towards the product’s safety mechanism. The coupling is now locked in place to make it easier to operate, and it’s clearer for the operator to see that it is locked and engaged correctly.”
The BPW Transpec product lineup also included several other breakthrough
innovations which were designed to increase safety and efficiency for users.
“We’ve got BPW AirSave here which is a tyre pressure inflation system,” Ian revealed. “If you happen to get a puncture on the tyre on your trailer, it has tubing going to the valve stems and a small pneumatic pump which will pump up the tyre if it’s got a small leak.
“It also has a warning light to indicate that there is a leak somewhere on the tyre. If it’s significant, it’ll go to a solid light so that the driver knows they’ve got a serious problem. If it’s a flashing light, that indicates it’s got a small leak and the system will cope with maintaining the pressure until the driver can get to a place to change the tyre.”
Meanwhile, BPW Transpec also displayed its Cargo Floor product, a moving floor trailer system with an updated module which has resulted in a faster operating speed. The pumps and pistons that are used to drive the unit have also been upgraded and the profiles of the planks
now have a smoother ceiling surface which results in less friction and improved leak resistance.
Other products on display included an Edbro hoist which, too, includes improvements on its predecessors, landing legs and a Fontaine fifth wheel which Ian said was brought to the Brisbane Truck Show so that the team could “gauge the interest of having another fifth wheel in the market.”
“This is a product that we’ve got some alliance with in Europe,” he said. “So, we’re just testing the waters to see what interest that creates.”
Looking at the complete lineup of BPW Transpec products on display, Ian said the team pulled off a great representation of that the OEM has to offer.
“It’s a selection of what we do, and it just shows that we’re not turning over the same product again and again,” he said.
“We’ve picked a few things out that are a bit unique as opposed to our regular line of products.”
BPW Transpec is sitting on an exciting catalogue of products and services, and after its attendance at the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show, it’s clear that the OEM is constantly looking to improve both performance and safety with these new items. And for Ian and the team, there’s no better time or place to unveil them than at the Brisbane Truck Show.
Contact
BPW Transpec
Ph: 03 9267 2444
Web: www.bpwtranspec.com.au
The BPW Transpec team at the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show.
A BPW Transpec landing leg.
Edbro C Series hoist.BPW AirSave on a drum brake axle.
Lift off
Hydreco
Hydraulics went all out at the Brisbane Truck Show last month with a head-turning display showcasing the very best of its product portfolio.
For Hydreco Hydraulics, the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show was the perfect opportunity for it to showcase its state-ofthe-art products. Although Hydreco has been operating since 1959, this industry stayer showcased some of the most eyecatching showstoppers over the event’s four days.
Hydreco Hydraulics National Sales Manager, Darren Kealey, says the Brisbane Truck Show was the one industry event not to be missed.
“It’s the biggest truck show in Australia, I believe, and it’s there to showcase our products to the market,” he says. “It’s there to show the industry that we’re still current, and we’re still developing products.
“It’s also because of our long history. We started in 1959 and we’re one of the only Power Take-Off (PTO) unit manufacturers left in Australia that designs our own PTOs, which is some significance to the market.”
Of Hydreco’s 30-plus products on show, Darren says a stand-out item proved to be a crowd favourite.
“Our key components of the display were made up of three key items, but the really unique one was our interactive water cannon display,” he explains. “It’s an automated cannon that functions by itself. As soon as someone goes up to touch it, they’re in control of it. It’s got some cool features.”
The custom-made water cannon, that can be used automated or manually, features a display screen and is able to simulate an operational truck, water flow and spray activations. Darren says the water cannon was a novel, hands-on way to highlight Hydreco’s range of industry capabilities to manufacturers.
Another of the top three offerings at Hydreco’s Brisbane Truck Show stand was its hoist and PTO stand which simulated a hoist operation with accompanying PTO palm valve controls and a hoist safety valve. This was joined by Hydreco’s PTO which was specifically designed for Eaton transmissions on Kenworth applications. Hydreco also featured a custom-made frame built in conjunction with Western Australian company, CJD, for the new DAF XG prime mover which incorporates toolboxes and tank controls for lifting and hoisting.
Added to its extensive display, Hydreco showcased a range of new tipping valve systems, joysticks for mobile applications, water pumps and a range of other PTO models.
“We had all the gear that we manufacture and supply into the Australian market,” Darren says. “We were there to support our distributor network, which is Australiawide, and also to support our OEM business.”
Darren says the Brisbane Truck Show was a perfect opportunity to network with local and interstate distributors, complemented by the interest buzzing around Hydreco’s stand. With Hydreco being uniquely positioned in the PTO market, Darren says it makes perfect sense to maintain its show-grabbing presence at the event.
“We’ve got a great following in the heavy truck market across Australia, particularly in outback Australia,” he says. “Our product is renowned to be durable and lasting in those areas, so we need to be there to support the industry in that market.”
Contact
Hydreco Hydraulics
Ph: 02 98383 6882
Web: www.hydreco.com
Hydreco Hydraulics’ Brisbane Truck Show display.
Hydreco Hydraulics’ custom water pump display.
Land of opportunity
Global heavy vehicle OEM, JOST World, has Australia firmly in its plans for future growth and customer consolidation following the recent acquisition of Hyva.
To have the leaders of two industry heavyweights in the same place at the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show is certainly a big deal. The combined presence of JOST World CEO, Joachim Dürr, and Hyva CEO, Alex Tan, in Brisbane last month revealed a clear indication that Australia is an important market in JOST’s future plans.
While Europe’s biennial IAA Transportation is a global platform for the commercial transport industry, Joachim sees the Brisbane Truck Show as a cornerstone for the Australian market.
“Brisbane is a great market,” he said at the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show. “We love Australia. It’s an intriguing country with a great landscape and great people, but it also has excellent truck and trailer applications.
“We have a lot of opportunities here with the Hyva integration now. We can improve availability and we can improve our logistics capability.”
Joachim, together with Alex, believe the Brisbane Truck Show is a vital component of the global truck industry – boasting a
strong presence of Japanese, Chinese, North American and European truck and trailer manufacturers.
“The Australian market gets a lot of attention because of its complexity and uniqueness,” Joachim said. “Not just because of its size, but because it’s so special.
“Australia is so complex and so interesting. We are very proud to be here with a company that is recognised very well by our customers.”
According to Joachim, Australia is an intriguing proving ground for the JOST network.
“There are a lot of different applications, Performance-Based Standards (PBS) and very complex and interesting ways of setting things up and creating efficiencies,” he said. “It has long distances and all kinds of different materials to transport, from live cattle to mining goods to parcels. There are many different types of logistics that are all here in one country.”
Factors such as its size and diversity are
why Australia fits very well into JOST’s strategy.
“Australia is a big agricultural country that requires a lot of transport,” Joachim said. “It also leads into construction, waste management and infrastructure where Hyva products play a big role in.”
While JOST already has a foothold in the Australian commercial transport market, Joachim sees potential for further development.
“Australia is unique in that it has the most varieties of applications for loads with PBS,” he said. “That’s why we all love Australia, because we can learn so much from its different applications such as road trains and weights.”
Australia’s uniqueness is something that has also helped JOST and Hyva cement their presence.
“Our people that you see here know everything,” Joachim said. “They work with our customers and the final fleet in the end on a daily basis to find the best solution.”
Opportunities for expansion by JOST
JOST’s 2025 Brisbane Truck Show stand.
Image: JOST Australia.
in the Australian market, according to Joachim and Alex, will be borne out of the primary feature of safety and allied fields – including increased safety levels and more product innovations.
“Safety is a big player here in Australia with the compliance regulations, so that’s a big and important part to become even stronger,” Joachim said. “I expect that we will see a lot more sensor products for the normal coupling hitches but also on the fifth wheels. That’s probably the biggest opportunity for us.”
There will also be manufacturing and production opportunities deriving from the combined logistics and purchasing capabilities of JOST and Hyva.
“We’ll be even better with the combined force,” Joachim said. “We already have plans to move into a new building in Melbourne and we will combine all brands under the one umbrella to provide better service, availability and stock levels for our customers here in Australia.”
Apart from maintaining excellent customer service, JOST’s local focus will be wrangling the size and broad geographical nature of the market through its stock and logistics network.
“This is probably the most critical in Australia because it is such a complex market,” Joachim said. “You have trucks from all over the world to bring all those parts in. So, there’s a big variety here.”
For Alex, there are many complementary strengths of JOST being brought together with Hyva and its extensive global
footprint across Europe, Asia and the United States. As a combined entity, JOST and Hyva will essentially be able to generate greater solutions for customers by being more accessible and having better stock availability.
“The two brands are very strong together,” he explained alongside Joachim at the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show. “The integration will make change, but the changes are for better service and synergy to our customers as well as the team.
“We, as a result, have a bigger platform
and a stronger company which gives more confidence to the market.”
In terms of JOST’s future developments, there will be opportunities for long-term growth. However, the immediate focus under the integration will be on ensuring customer and shareholder satisfaction.
“If we can deliver the improvements to our customers that we want to deliver, then that’s success,” Alex said. “We want to make sure that that we deliver the promises of both brands to our customers and that we exceed those with the potential that we’ve identified.
“We are providing more support for our customers through a bigger network, platform and production offering. And we are combining these strengths.”
Joachim said the ideal outcome of the integration is that JOST will be able to enhance its greatest abilities.
“The hope of this integration is that we are more relevant for our existing customers, that we can improve the service level and that we are also a more important partner for future developments,” he said. “We’ve got some good ideas to make the usage of our systems even safer than they are today.”
Contact
JOST Australia
Ph: 1800 811 487
Web: www.jostaustralia.com.au
E: sales@jostaustralia.com.au
Hyva CEO, Alex Tan, and JOST World CEO, Joachim Dürr.
Image: JOST Australia.
Image: Prime Creative Media.
JOST’s Loc-Light system on display at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.
Painting the picture
Vorstrom Vacuum Equipment has long been using a range of Dulux Automotive Coatings products for enhanced protection and a polished presentation.
The story of Vorstrom Vacuum Equipment began in 1940 when the founding family first entered the waste transport sector in New South Wales. Fifteen years later, it made the move to Warwick, Queensland, and further cemented its commitment to the industry.
Drawing on 69 years of hands-on experience, the business was officially established in 2009 with a clear focus to design and manufacture high-performance vacuum tankers that would be purposebuilt for Australia’s waste handling needs. Vorstrom has since expanded significantly and now possesses 45 different models of vacuum tankers which range from small rigid builds with capacities of 2,000 litres to large semi-trailers which can hold 38,000 litres.
Vorstrom CEO and third-generation family member, Darryl Wiggins, has personally seen to this growth. To him, much of it has been a product of the company’s clear vision.
“Our aim is to design and manufacture
reliable, high-quality vacuum tankers with a commitment to delivering exceptional aftersales service,” he says. “Our true purpose goes beyond the product.
“We want to be a trusted leader in the tanker market that is recognised for innovation and sturdy builds, so we are dedicated to transforming our customers’ operations through exceptional products and unparalleled aftersales service.”
Reliability has been crucial to Vorstrom’s value proposition since the business’ rebranding and is delivered in a myriad of ways. Chief among these methods is through the use of Dulux Automotive Coatings’ FleetShield 2K Topcoat and UltraBuild Epoxy Primer.
Dulux Automotive Coatings’ FleetShield 2K Topcoat and UltraBuild Epoxy Primer are each premium quality two-pack solutions. The former features high-quality colour options in solid, metallic and pearl while the latter is best known for its anti-corrosive properties, excellent water
resistance and outstanding stone chip resistance.
For Vorstrom, these products provide its vacuum tankers with the key benefit of durability – an element which will also be paramount as the OEM gears up to cater to a larger variety of waste applications.
“We are now looking to carry a lot of products classified as Dangerous Goods with our tankers,” Darryl says. “Because of this, we’re very interested in finding coatings that are suitable to cover our tankers with.”
The protection factors of FleetShield 2K Topcoat and UltraBuild Epoxy Primer extend far beyond the transport journey. As Darryl clarifies, the durability of the products is also a vital quality for the maintenance of the units they are applied to.
“The cleaning of vacuum tankers often involves sanitising them with strong chemicals which threaten to strip paint layers if an equally strong protective topcoat isn’t used,” he says. “The washing
A Vorstrom TRD94024000 vacuum unit with Dulux FleetShield.
Images: Vorstrom Vacuum Equipment.
process is quite harsh, so the Dulux products we use on our tankers are critical for protection.”
Powerful cleaning chemicals are treated to these tankers at both hot temperatures and high pressures to clean the harsh chemicals that they carry.
“A weaker topcoat will be washed away in that process over time, so we need to use the strong stuff at every point,” Darryl says. “Being durable is essential in every step of the way.”
The FleetShield 2K Topcoat solution also addresses the aesthetic factor of Vorstrom’s tanker builds. Darryl says its glossy finish provides an attractive look, something which displays a degree of professionalism and high-quality to customers.
“These tankers become the front line of our customers’ businesses and fleets,” he says. “They need to look perfect so that our client looks right. So, the appearance of the tanker is just as important as the unit itself.”
This attention to detail has seemingly paid off as the precise focus on robustness and quality has been recognised and praised by Vorstrom’s customer base.
“The feedback that we get from our
customers is pretty straightforward,” Darryl says. “They say that our finish is highquality and resilient, and that our product makes their brands look great. That’s all we’re after.”
Vorstrom’s routine application of FleetShield 2K Topcoat and UltraBuild Epoxy Primer is further bolstered by the valuable aftersales support of Spray Blast Inspect (SBI), an esteemed distributor of Dulux Automotive Coatings products. Dulux Automotive Coatings Queensland Business Development Manager, Kevin Keys, says this partnership has proven to be an excellent fit for all three companies involved. The collaboration has not only met their needs but has also opened up new opportunities for growth and success.
“SBI is essentially a one-stop shop for the supply of goods needed in the automotive paint industry,” he says. “They have extensive industry experience and are highly regarded. The feedback they provide us with on the products used by Vorstrom is incredibly supportive.”
Darryl testifies to the support from Dulux Automotive Coatings and SBI and explains the significant extent to which it has benefitted his operations.
“We really have Sean and Ray at SBI to
thank for our use of the Dulux products,” he says. “They have operated as the middleman between us and Dulux for well over a decade.”
In addition to the ongoing support from SBI, Vorstrom also receives assistance directly from Dulux representatives.
“Kevin from Dulux often visits our site to check in on the products we’re using,” Darryl says. “They will also show us any new paint options they may have. It’s very diligent work on their part.”
Overall, Dulux Automotive Coatings’ FleetShield range of products have ensured that Vorstrom’s tankers are both durable and presentable. Through constant support, Darryl and his team can service the waste industry’s needs with products that are both strong and stylish.
“Working with Dulux for as long as we have has been nothing short of a journey,” he says. “We are very pleased with how well this application has performed. As long as our tankers need protection, we will continue to use their products.”
Contact
Dulux Automotive Coatings
Ph: 1800 810 114
Web: www.duluxautomotive.com
Dulux Automotive Coatings’ products ensure Vorstrom’s tankers are durable and presentable.
Trailer building materials/components
Shining a new light
HELLA Australia is transforming its classic line of trailer lighting by incorporating cutting-edge technology into two new products – the DuraLED-S and DuraLED Prime lamps.
HELLA has provided commercial markets with automotive and lighting solutions for over a century. Originally founded in Germany in 1899, the company underwent decades of growth and refinement before opening its first international outlet in Australia in 1961 as well as New Zealand in 1973, among a plethora of other markets.
Located in Mentone, Victoria, HELLA Australia has garnered a reputation as a renowned lighting solutions provider which produces robust lamps that deliver safety benefits to an array of truck fleets and drivers. HELLA Australia National Sales Manager SOE, Cameron Hoy, says the delivery of quality and safety has always been core to the business’ value proposition.
“Lighting is fundamental from a safety perspective,” he says. “People in the industry can look past it a lot, focusing exclusively on the likes of brakes and tyres to drive safely, but they miss a key quality of safe performance altogether when they do this. We take pride in producing our lighting solutions with absolute precision to ensure this safety.”
An indispensable product range to this is HELLA’s DuraLED lamp line, initially developed in 1998 in the company’s New Zealand market before being brought to the Australian transport sector. Acting as the introduction of HELLA LED lighting to many within the industry, the product line has been immensely successful due to its level of quality.
“The DuraLED was revolutionary for these markets when we launched them around 26 years ago,” says HELLA New Zealand Head of Product Management, Craig Beavis. “It was quite niche at the time and brought LEDs in front of the whole sector.
“The lamp became a big choice for fleets due to the large reduction of maintenance costs in the change from bulb lamps to LEDs. The technology was leading-edge at the time, but HELLA has since changed.”
This change, an innovative hunger on HELLA’s part to provide a higher quality product to its customers, has manifested in the revamping of the iconic DuraLED range for the first time in an entire generation. These lighting solutions have been upgraded with the latest technology for the
Images: HELLA Australia.
HELLA Australia’s new DuraLED-S product.
next wave of commercial transport groups – firstly coming in the form of the recently developed DuraLED-S.
The DuraLED products now feature many modern technological capabilities within the manufacturing space while also including the classic aesthetic that is wellknown by the market.
“This lamp sold nearly a million units,” says HELLA New Zealand Product Manager, Clark Berridge. “It is still a major market that we need to service. The product’s looks haven’t changed since its release but there have been major improvements to its circuitry, LED fittings and other componentry.
“Most customers don’t see the difference, but that’s the charm – it’s a new piece of technology which looks like the classic product that people love.”
DuraLED-S’ technological improvements are being matched by another release within the range expected later this year, an entirely redefined lighting solution known as DuraLED Prime which itself has undergone rigorous product testing to ensure top performance.
“We want to be careful in replacing such an iconic product in the market,” Craig says. “DuraLED Prime has gone through so many testing programs such as electromagnetic compatibility, load dump testing and a huge number of international automotive tests to be sure the product will carry the DuraLED name properly.”
Decked out with the latest technology such as swiping indicators, a glowing body
tail and a built-in DT connector for plugand-play connectivity, this lamp is being positioned in the market as an upscale lighting choice for fleets that wish to stand out on the roads and among other vehicles.
Despite these technological changes present in both products, the new DuraLED lamps will not sacrifice the range’s robustness. Cameron believes the original HELLA lighting solutions have proven to outlast the average 15-year lifespan of an Australian semi-trailer. To him, this longevity is a testament to the meticulous and dedicated design and testing of the HELLA team.
“We’re proud to say that advertising a lifetime guarantee with our DuraLED products is more than just a ploy,” he says. “It’s a reality. Knowing that the product has worked in the market for this period is valuable feedback in its own right. HELLA’s design and engineering teams have worked hard to pass this quality onto the next product generation.”
This diligent product testing process is not only limited to the DuraLED range. As Clark reveals, it is applied to all of HELLA’s projects.
“Designing our products to fit our high quality and safety standards is not easy,” he says. “We have a lot of standards we need to comply with in the worldwide HELLA system. We have tests for everything and it’s so much more than just passing an ADR check and throwing the product into the marketplace.”
While working as a quality guarantee for
HELLA products, the DuraLED product range’s intense testing and subsequent durability has also proven to be key for sustainable practice.
The resilient nature of the lamps mean they can be replaced at a much slower rate, thereby reducing the amount used and eventually thrown away. This is integral to HELLA’s brand identity across its global markets and is a particular working goal in the company’s New Zealand branch (which is fully powered by renewable energy).
The environmentally conscientious design of HELLA’s products and operations serve as just more reason that Clark and the team proudly represent the company.
“One reason I’ve been with the company for so long is that I don’t have to make excuses for it,” he says. “HELLA’s products are safe, reliable and sustainable. Customers know they are done right by HELLA which is so important.”
The company’s latest DuraLED range releases are no exception to this quality promise. Daring to shake up its iconic product line with new technology and aesthetics, HELLA has shone a light on its unwavering commitment to providing customers with safest and most reliable solutions.
Contact
HELLA Australia
Ph: 1800 061 729
E: info.au@hella.com
Web: www.hella.com/hella-au/
The product features many modern technological capabilities while also including a classic well-known aesthetic.
2025 Hydraulics Showcase
Published every year in the June edition of Trailer, the Hydraulics Showcase is an annual guidebook listing for the road transport industry which provides details on the truck and trailer spec hydraulic equipment available and where it can be sourced.
Image: M. Perfectti/stock.adobe.com.
Binotto via TES
9/450 Princes Hwy
Noble Park
VIC 3174 Australia
Ph: 03 8791 5400
Web: transporteng.com.au
BPW Transpec
1-11 Cherry Lane
Laverton North VIC 3026
Ph: 03 9267 2444
Web: bpwtranspec.com.au
Delta Hydraulics
171-199 Stony Rise Road
Devonport TAS 7310
Ph: 03 6420 6900
Web: delhyd.com.au
Heavy Hydraulics
17-19 Hakkinen Road
Wingfield SA 5013
1800 022 831
Web: heavyhydraulics. com.au
Ph:
PO Box 441, Somerville
Sandgate VIC 3931
Ph: 0404 041 883
Web: keithwalkingfloor. com
7 Jersey Ave
NSW 2304
Ph: 1300 303 010
Web: megapacific.com.au
29 Trevi Crescent Tullamarine VIC
Ph: 1300 040 600
Web: omfbpacific.com
Locked and loaded
The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association has outlined its key focuses for the year ahead.
The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) has outlined an ambitious agenda for the coming year, focusing on three major areas critical to the sustainability and progression of the rural transport sector – driver training, animal welfare and Performance-Based Standards (PBS). This direction follows the success of the ALRTA’s and Livestock, Bulk and Rural Carriers Association’s (LBRCA) joint National Rural Carriers Conference held in Canberra in April which celebrated outstanding contributions from across the industry.
The conference itself highlighted excellence with a number of prestigious awards. Isaac Davis of Tasmania and Kyle Nicholas of South Australia were jointly awarded the Australian Trucking Association’s (ATA) Rising Star Award, recognising the next generation of transport professionals. Craig Congram of Finley, New South Wales, was honoured as the Kenworth Icon of the Road, while the Bruce McIver Award was presented posthumously in honour of Jack Mitchell from Western Australia for his lifetime of dedication to rural transport.
Pauline Kearney was recognised as the Rural Transport Woman of the Year and Joe Sepos was granted life membership of the LBRCA for his longstanding commitment to the industry.
Amidst the celebrations, the ALRTA
announced its strategic focus areas for the year ahead:
1. Driver training
According to the ALRTA, rural and regional transport operators continue to face severe challenges in recruiting and retaining skilled drivers. The shortage is compounded by limited access to highquality training in rural areas.
In response, the ALRTA is moving to establish a dedicated Rural Driver Training Academy.
“The proposed academy will support operators by delivering specialised training with a strong focus on livestock handling, bulk grain operations and heavy vehicle compliance,” says ALRTA Executive Director, Anthony Boyle. “The aim is to provide targeted education that meets the unique demands of rural freight transport while fostering career pathways and lifting industry standards.”
2. Animal welfare
With support from the ALRTA, the LBRCA is spearheading the development of a national animal welfare program. Designed to deliver end-to-end traceability and bestpractice handling from paddock to plate, the initiative brings together input from farmers, animal rights groups, feedlots, saleyards, processors and government agencies.
“Animal welfare in livestock transport is not just an operational priority – it’s a public expectation,” says LBRCA President, Wade Lewis. “Increasing scrutiny from the community, industry stakeholders and regulators is driving the need for enhanced accountability across the supply chain.”
According to Lewis, this collaborative effort will cement Australia’s reputation for world-class standards in livestock transport while building trust and transparency within the broader community.
3. Performance-Based Standards and access reform
While PBS vehicles offer enormous benefits in terms of safety, productivity and environmental performance, inconsistent access regulations across state borders remain a significant hurdle.
According to the ALRTA, operators are often faced with a patchwork of policies which undermine the efficiency and viability of PBS investments. That being said, the association has convened a specialist committee to address the growing concerns around PBS access and national uniformity.
With a particular focus on the eastern transport corridor, the ALRTA will use robust data to advocate for improved cooperation among road managers and consistent treatment of high-productivity vehicle configurations. The goal, ALRTA President, Gerard Johnson, says, is to unlock safer and more efficient freight movement across jurisdictions.
“The ALRTA remains committed to supporting rural and regional transporters through practical solutions, industry leadership and constructive engagement with all levels of government and the broader supply chain,” he says.
Contact
Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association
Ph: 02 6247 5434
Web: www.alrta.org.au
Image: ALRTA.
ALRTA President, Gerard Johnson.
DURALED® BUILT TO LAST
HELLA’s DuraLED® range with integrated DT connectors, provide ultimate reliability and efficiency that stands the test of time.
Designed for both OEM production and fleet operations, HELLA’s innovative solutions ensure your vehicles stay on the road, minimising downtime and maintenance costs.
HELLA’s DT connectors offer a true “Plug and Play” experience. Whether for new vehicle builds or fleet repairs, installation is quick, secure, and seamless - reducing production time and simplifying maintenance when lamps are damaged in the field.
• Highly resistant to impact and vibrations
• Corrosion-resistant
• Broad temperature range
• High-performance silicone seals
• Tight line insulation sheathing (reliable environmental sealing)
• Resistant to most substances used in industry and engine compartments
• Always highly flexible, even under extreme temperatures
• Compatible with a range of cable cross-sections
INSTALL MORE THAN JUST LIGHTS; INSTALL CONFIDENCE WITH HELLA
Light work
Wickham Freight Lines has significantly increased safety by fitting JOST’s Loc-Light fifth wheel sensor across its fleet.
Wickham Freight Lines is a transport company based in Warwick, Queensland, which maintains a fleet of over 200 prime movers and 500-plus semi-trailers. Safety and customer satisfaction are two paramount aspects of Wickham Freight Lines’ operations, and the business, for that reason, has been making substantial investments to improve both.
Wickham Freight Lines National Workshop Manager, Steve Lord, says installing JOST’s Loc-Light system on over 30 prime movers and standardising it on all new equipment has transformed the fleet’s safety.
“We’re not seeing any dropped trailers with Loc-Light,” he says. “The amount of dropped trailers has gone down significantly since we started fitting the product to our prime movers. As a result, we’ve also cut down our repair costs considerably.”
JOST’s innovative Loc-Light system is a fifth wheel sensor which ensures secure and reliable trailer couplings. Featuring a dual sensor monitoring setup and LED illumination, the system is integrated with a ‘Go’/‘No-Go’ indicator light (green/red) near the fifth wheel handle.
When the handle and kingpin are properly locked, the light turns green which signals that the trailer has been coupled correctly. However, if the handle or kingpin is not locked correctly, the light flashes red and begins beeping.
Additionally, the LED illumination automatically activates and shines directly into the fifth wheel’s throat, providing a clear view of the lockbar for pre-trip inspections.
The light turns green which signals that the trailer has been coupled correctly.
Images: Wickham Freight Lines.
JOST’s Loc-Light sensor on a JSK37C fifth wheel.
Road upgrades & new developments
What you need to know about Australia’s biggest road projects this month
Newell Highway safety upgrades begin
Safety improvements for a section of the Newell Highway in Finley, New South Wales, have begun.
Commencing on 16 May between Ulupna and Wollamai streets, the improvements represent the first $2.1 million phase of a $10 million reconstruction program planned for the highway between Tongs and Atkinson streets.
Work has involved resurfacing the travel lanes to make a smoother, safer road.
“The work will include road resurfacing to deliver a smoother and safer highway and relocating the pedestrian crossing further away from the intersection of the Newell Highway with Pinnuck Street to improve safety,” said Transport for NSW Regional Director South, Cassandra Ffrench.
“In response to community feedback, the existing raised medians will be removed, and parking reinstated in its place.”
Berrigan Shire Council is continuing the project this month by relocating the pedestrian crossing from near Pinnuck Street intersection to 50 metres further north along Murray Street to improve safety.
$128M renewable energy zones project announced for NSW
The New South Wales Government has awarded a contract to deliver the first stage of the $128 million Port to REZ Program.
Road upgrades which pave the way for the state’s Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) have since begun.
The program will upgrade key roads and intersections to make it possible to transport the oversized equipment needed to build renewable energy projects in regional NSW, while improving roads for the entire community.
Construction will be delivered by BMD Constructions.
The NSW Government is investing $110.5 million into the project while the Australian Government is contributing $18 million.
The first stage of works will include upgrades across 19 locations from Port of Newcastle to Elong Elong near Dubbo, unlocking access to the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone.
These upgrades will include pavement widening, drainage adjustments, new tuning lanes and relocation or adjustment of utilities, depending on the location.
Construction will commence at several locations including Selwyn Street in Mayfield North, Lonsdale Street in Jerrys
Plains, Vinegaroy Road in Cassilis and Barneys Reef Road in Dunedoo.
Once delivered, the upgrades are expected to reduce delay times, easing travel through intersections and improving road safety.
NSW Minister for Roads and Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison, said the beneficiaries will be all motorists – not just those driving the oversized loads.
“The appointment of a contractor to lead the work to enable the safe movement of wind and solar farm components on the road network is great news,” she said.
“These 19 road upgrades will result in greater capacity and a safer road environment from the Port of Newcastle, through the Hunter and then into the Central West where these farms will be located.”
Minister for the Hunter, Yasmin Catley, said this project will help ensure the region continues to be an ‘energy powerhouse’ for further decades to come.
“The Port to REZ program is an important investment in our region’s future – we are building better roads that will not only benefit the community but help deliver critical infrastructure and create local jobs,” she said.
Tasmanian freight route upgrades continue
The Tasmanian Government is delivering a second package of works under the Freight Capacity Upgrade Program to improve several freight routes in the state.
Five Tasmanian bridges have been strengthened so far and a further three are under construction.
Minister for Infrastructure, Kerry Vincent, said the Australian and Tasmanian Governments’ jointly-funded project is focused on providing improved access and reliability for freight vehicles.
“The five-year, $100 million Freight Capacity Upgrade Program is supporting Tasmania’s economic growth by increasing freight efficiency, enabling increased safe operating loads, and making travel times more predictable for freight operators,” he said.
“Repairing and strengthening these sections of road and bridges will also improve road safety for all road users and reduce maintenance costs.
“Each year the projects delivered under this program make it easier and more efficient to transport essential goods across the state.
“This helps keep our supermarket shelves stocked, enables major construction projects, and ensures Tasmanian producers can get their goods to key markets in Tasmania and beyond.”
The five recently completed bridges include:
• Pardoe Creek Bridge, Port Sorell Road, Latrobe
• Don River Bridge, Sheffield Road, Acacia Hills
• Mole Creek Bridge, Liena Road, Mole Creek
• Arthur River Bridge, Waratah Road, Waratah
• Wellards Creek Bridge, Arthur Highway, Murdunna
The three other bridges in this package under construction include:
• Argent River Bridge, Murchison Highway, West Coast
• Norfolk Creek Bridge, Arthur Highway, Taranna
• Allans Creek Bridge, Arthur Highway, Taranna
The final bridge under this contract, Leslie Station Creek Bridge, will start construction in October 2025.
In addition to the five bridges recently completed, six road strengthening projects have also been completed.
These include sections on the Bass Highway near Westbury, Elizabeth Town and Parramatta Creek, Esk Main Road west of Avoca and Fingerpost Main Road North of Richmond.
At the crossroads
Smooth sailing ahead or navigating bumpy roads? What you need to know about America’s road transport and logistics networks in light of tariffs and Trump’s historic actions.
The United States’ transportation sector – primarily its road and logistics industries –has long been at the forefront of America’s economic prosperity. The nation has long been proud of its trucking industry that keeps Americans moving, connected, fed, clothed, healthy, entertained and employed. However, it is an industry that is facing an uncertain future due to a number of factors, as well as the spectre of tariffs being implemented by the current Federal Administration against Canada, China and Mexico.
America has long relied on its transport industry to connect people with goods and services across its vast land. In the early 1800s, the National Road was the first highway built entirely with federal funds, opening up the Midwest for settlement and commerce. This led to greater westward movement of people and goods, thus expanding the United States to what it is today.
The US road network and transportation services have long driven the growth and expansion of the country – connected by an interwoven network of roads, highways and railways. They facilitate the rapid movement of people and goods from coast to coast. This has resulted in increased urbanisation, economic growth, industrialisation and connectivity between communities, towns and cities. The result is that today, the US road freight industry is responsible for moving over 70 per cent of all domestic freight.
A flourishing transportation sector is therefore vitally critical to the nation’s economy. Not only does it connect homes, workplaces and communities, it connects manufacturers with supplies and consumers with essential goods and products.
After taking a huge hit during the Covid-19 pandemic, the transportation and allied industries employed more than 16 million people across the US in 2023, which accounted for about 10 per cent of the US workforce. In addition, in 2023, transportation services contributed approximately $2.5 trillion to the US gross domestic product.
However, despite it being a powerhouse for America’s continued economic stability, the transport and logistic sectors are facing an uncertain future. According to a November 2024 article by the Manhattan Institute the US’ transportation system is at the ‘crossroads’ and facing a challenging and possibly precarious future, including “rapid changes in technology, values, culture, demographics, … transportation funding shortfalls and a backlog of needs for aging infrastructure.”
The latter of these has seen a plethora of accidents and delays caused by failing road and rail infrastructure, including the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, the Baltimore Bridge collapse and more. Such disasters have a deleterious impact on the nation’s ability to transport goods and services across America.
Added to these issues are the vexing
topics of chronic shortages of qualified drivers in an industry where they are being driven away due to fluctuations in fuel prices, high operating costs, long hours and reduced returns. Coupled with this are cost of living issues and reduced consumer confidence, where the cost of eggs has been a topic of debate and anger domestically in what many see as a symptom of the global cost of living crisis confronting many governments.
These venerable industries are also facing challenges related to global supply chains, such as port congestions, as well as tougher safety and environmental regulations and the growing focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, coupled with an increased push for the adoption of electric trucks and alternative fuels.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “climate change can disrupt transportation networks, stress infrastructure, and pose safety risks to people.” It cites the rise in sea levels, changes in precipitation, extreme weather conditions, and heat fluctuations as major threats to the efficacy of transportation and logistics systems.
The Manhattan Institute added that, in addition to the concerns related to labour shortages, aging infrastructure, climate change, economic conditions, America’s transportation sector is also having to come to grips with issues of “electrification, automation, and application of artificial intelligence.”
A semi-trailer on the Nevada Highway.
The report also stated: “Technology has enabled significant changes in transportation, such as rapid increases in work-from-home participation, e-commerce utilisation, and technologyenabled services and business models (for example, everything from ride-hailing and e-bikes to computer-enabled logistics, payment, and scheduling capabilities for person and freight transport).”
The rapid rise of online shopping, increased demand for rapid deliveries, as well as the automation of freight handling in organisations, such as Amazon, have placed further strain on the trucking and transport industries.
But it hasn’t been all bad news for the transportation industry, with the National Retail Federation showing monthly
inbound cargo for 2024 outperforming the 2023 volumes, with levels over two million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) anticipated for a sustained period. In addition, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the inflation rate as of June 2024 was 2.97 per cent, similar to June 2023, but much lower than the June 2022 peak of 9.06 per cent.
Road transport industry stakeholders also have reason to feel buoyant, with the announcement on 12 March 2025, by the EPA that it is undertaking 31 historic actions, which includes reconsideration of electric vehicle mandates and truck emissions standards, in an effort to save the American economy trillions of dollars in regulatory and compliance expenses.
As part of its reviews of current practices,
the EPA will review the ‘Clean Trucks Plan’, which includes the 2022 HeavyDuty Nitrous Oxide (NOx) rule. That rule, created under the Biden Administration, will reportedly result in making goods delivered by trucks, such as food and household items, more expensive.
Lee Zeldin, EPA Administrator, said the raft of plans was part of the Trump Administration’s ‘Power the Great American Comeback’, to “to drive down cost of living for American families, unleash American energy, bring auto jobs back to the US and more.”
American Trucking Associations President, Chris Spear, has praised the Trump Administration for the plan to reopen the Phase 3 Greenhouse Gas emissions standards (GHG3), as well as the
A truck waiting to be loaded at a dock.
Amazon delivery truck on the move in Virginia.
review of the federal NOx standard.
“GHG3 in its current form is unachievable given the state of battery-electric technology and the sheer lack of charging infrastructure,” said Spear.
“This rule has been an albatross for the trucking industry, threatening to reduce equipment availability, increase costs for businesses and consumers, and cause major supply chain disruptions.”
Spear said the trucking industry is keen to see a revival of a working partnership with the EPA that will improve emission standards and boost the transport sector.
“Crafting a new national rule will prevent states like California from attempting to make an end run around the administration, creating a patchwork of impossible mandates that would jeopardise our economy,” he said.
Spear said the proposed changes to the GHG3 by the EPA, would result in 60 trucks today emitting the same amount as one truck manufactured in 1988.
The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has also welcomed the EPA’s review of the GHG emissions standards for heavyduty vehicles and a goal for “practical and achievable emissions standards”.
“As a founding member of the Clean Freight Coalition, TCA has worked diligently to ensure that federal emissions policies reflect real-world operational and economic considerations,” it said in a statement.
The current action by the EPA comes after the previous Agency announced, in March 2024, its “Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3,” that set higher standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-duty (HD) vehicles beginning in model year (MY) 2027. Opponents to these stronger standards have argued that increased emissions reduction requirements for nitrogen oxide would result in substantial and exorbitant costs to a new Class 8 tractor.
The Trump-era EPA has won industry praise for the extensive reviews, which will also look at Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles, as well as a reconsideration of light-duty, medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicle regulations that were the foundation or the Biden-Harris electric vehicle mandate. It is estimated that the EPA review could save $700 billion in regulatory and compliance costs that otherwise would have led to higher consumer prices on
goods transported by trucks. As a result, the proposed changes are being billed by the current EPA as the “greatest and most consequential deregulation in the history of the United States.”
“ATA looks forward to working with the Trump Administration to develop realistic, technology-neutral federal emissions standards that will benefit our environment, preserve and create jobs and set our industry and supply chain up for success,” said Spear.
Despite the EPA’s welcomed action and reviews with respect to Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards, there is a dark cloud looming over the future prosperity of the
transportation and logistics industries in the form of the US Government announcing 25 per cent tariffs on imports of many goods from Canada and Mexico, including cars, trucks, steel and timber, and which are to take effect from 2 April 2025. Combined with the immediate retaliatory actions of Canada and Mexico, the tariffs’ impact on the trucking industry could be significant, with the potential to depress near-term truck volumes and, over time, reshape commercial vehicle manufacturing.
Despite Canada and Mexico retaliating with similar tariffs on US goods, industry experts view the American tariffs as
Hay bale delivery in California.
highly impactful on the Medium Heavy Commercial Vehicle (MHCV) industry, particularly trucks and buses in the gross vehicle weight (GVW) Classes 4-8, or above 14,000 pounds. The tariffs could undo the work of USMCA trade agreement, which saw the share of commercial trucks imported from Canada and Mexico accounting for almost 33 per cent of new-vehicle demand in the US. Moreover, more than 40 per cent of the heavier Class 8 trucks sold in the US are imported from Canada and Mexico.
In addition to those sanctions, in February 2025, the US Office of the United States Trade Representative
(USTR) published its proposed actions under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 (Section 301) to address the harm it saw being incurred by the US due to China’s seeking to dominate the maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors.
The USTR proposes to impose significant port fees on Chinese maritime transport operators and operators with current fleets of Chinese-built vessels and requirements for the increased use of US vessels to carry US goods in coastwise and international transport from US ports.
The USTR has proposed the following fees and restrictions on services: Chinese transport operators will be
charged: up to $1 million USD per vessel entrance to a US port; or up to $1,000 USD per net tonne of the vessel’s capacity per vessel, per vessel entry to a US port.
Transport operators with fleets comprised of Chinese-built vessels will be charged: up to $1.5 million USD per vessel entrance to a US port; or based on the percentage of Chinese-built vessels in an operator’s fleet; or an ‘additional fee’ of up to $1 million USD per vessel entrance to a US port if the number of Chinese-built vessels in the operator’s fleet is equal to or greater than 25 per cent
The potential of high port fees on Chinese vessels entering US ports could lead to increased costs for importers and exporters, supply chain disruptions, together with possible retaliatory measures from China. If implemented this could affect global trade flows and impact businesses that rely on sea transportation.
The USTR is inviting comments from the public on the proposed Section 301 actions, intending to hold a public hearing on 24 March 2025 at the International Trade Commission. This comes after the US Chassis Manufacturers Coalition recently filed petitions alleging traded imports of chassis from Mexico, Thailand and Vietnam threaten the American chassis industry.
The petitions claim that producers in Mexico and Thailand receive an unfair benefit from numerous countervailable subsidies, which, depending on the country, may include tax exemptions and/ or incentives, duty exemptions, preferential lending, grant programs, state-level investment programs and other support.
While the US transportation and logistics industries are certainly at the crossroads of their future growth and sustainability due to the array of factors, the industries are by no means being given the final rites. There will always be a need for transport services across America – the expansive nation that is devoted to mobility and all associated industries and services. As the Manhattan Institute study found: “Mobility has long motivated both public and private investments in transportation facilities and services.”
The future of transport in the US will require a unified, all-of-stakeholder, bipartisan plan of action to ensure that the industries weather the current storm and move forward, ensuring the future and viability of industries that have been the backbone of America’s growth and prosperity for the past 150 years.
Image: Sundry
Photography/stock.adobe.com.
Cold pursuit
Minus 1 is preparing for several interstate expansion projects following the launch of its new Brisbane depot.
National refrigerated transport company, Minus 1, has launched its fully refurbished depot in Rocklea, Queensland, ahead of several other projects planned across Australia.
The Brisbane location now features 4,500 square metres of temperaturecontrolled warehousing and over 4,000 square metres of parking for PerformanceBased Standards (PBS) A-double and B-triple combinations.
It also includes 5,000 storage spaces across freezer, chiller and ambient zones, 10 recessed temperature-controlled loading docks and an on-site workshop.
According to Minus 1 CEO and Managing Director, Billy Barba, the reconstruction of the purpose-built facility was necessary due to significant growth experienced.
“We had outgrown our old facility,” he says. “Site restrictions were starting to put pressure on operational performance, and this ultimately led to the need to expand.”
The new facility has since increased Minus 1’s capacity and operational efficiency while also ensuring 100-per-cent cold chain compliance.
“The increased space has had an immediate impact by creating a safer and more efficient working environment for our people,” Billy says. “With the 10 recessed docks, freight comes in quicker and gets shipped out quicker. This enables greater
flexibility for same day inbound deliveries and significantly improved load times for local and long haul drivers.”
Minus 1 is also building a new site in Minchinbury, New South Wales. The facility will feature 19 recessed loading docks and cross-dock and hardstand areas for trailer parking.
With construction expected to be completed on 23 August 2025, this location alone will bring an additional 17,000 temperature-controlled storage spaces to Minus 1’s network. Minus 1 will have over 30,000 refrigerated spaces around the country upon its completion.
“Minchinbury will become the mothership
of the east coast for interstate operation,” Billy says. “We aren’t looking to be the biggest in the industry. We do, however, want to be the best.”
There are several other projects in the works as well. Minus 1 is currently sourcing land to build projects in Adelaide and Perth in 2026. It is also planning to build a mega depot in northern Victoria in 2028.
“As a business, we need to ensure we not only provide our drivers with the best equipment but we support our network, customers and our people with the best infrastructure,” Billy says. “These infrastructure projects bring us one step closer to ticking that box nationally.”
Images: Minus
Minus 1’s Brisbane depot.
Truck Shows & Field Days
Pencil in some information on dates and venues of various truck shows, field days and road transport industry conferences both locally and internationally.
June
Victoria Women in Industry Awards
19 June
Melbourne, VIC Visit: www.womeninindustry.com.au
July
New South Wales
CeMAT AUSTRALIA
22-24 July
Sydney, NSW Visit: www.cemat.com.au
September
New South Wales
NSW Major Projects Conference 2025 3-4 September
Sydney, NSW Visit: www.nswconference.com.au
Queensland
Agrotrend 2025 12-13 September Bundaberg, QLD Visit: www.agrotrend.com.au
New South Wales
Henty Machinery Field Days 23-25 September Henty, NSW Visit: www.hmfd.com.au
As Australia’s biggest independent and family owned and operated trailer manufacturer, Vawdrey Australia now stands with 50 years of experience in pushing the boundaries for innovation, service and quality. As a business, we’re incredibly proud of establishing a reputation on these strengths and maintaining them throughout our operations over the last five decades. The story of Vawdrey dates back to September 1974 when my father, Mick, set up his own shop in Melbourne to start building truck bodies for the industry. Creating a body building business from scratch is already a tough task but growing it into a leading national manufacturer and constantly setting the standards while being restricted to a wheelchair is a challenge of its own.
Dad found strength in the situation and used it to his advantage. He would often tell me that the wheelchair allowed him to give the business his full attention and that it meant he could focus on growing it. He did just that.
We have been pushing the limits above and beyond the norm since those early days, paving the way in Performance-Based Standards, high-productivity vehicles and innovative solutions throughout the entire industry. We started in 2012 with the Super B-double which allows operators to carry two 40’ containers at once (under
strict guidelines set out by traffic and road authorities in Victoria) and in the same year we introduced a whole range of Super B-double combinations based on the same concept. This was a significant milestone for Higher Productivity Freight Vehicles (HPFV) and increased route access in Melbourne. Countless other in-house innovations have followed such as the Iceliner freezer vans, Titeliners, skels, flat tops and drop decks. Beyond trailer designs, we’ve also introduced several state-of-the-art solutions designed to increase productivity, efficiency and safety for all users. Just to name a few, these include the Auto Lock Air mezzanine deck solution, the LatchLiner buckle-less curtain system and the automatic Wingliner system.
We have remained at the forefront of the Australian semi-trailer building industry’s evolution for half of a century and we continue to lead the way as an integral player with engineering prowess. Our reputation of quality, innovation and dedication is one we hold close to our hearts and one, as we approach our next significant milestone, that we will continue to uphold.
We understand the unique challenges Australian operators have to face and we provide a wide range of solutions to cater to them. Everyone at Vawdrey
has a sense of ownership for the brand and the product, and that is one of my father’s greatest achievements. For him, Vawdrey would be nothing without his people. And that extends to our customers. The loyalty from our customer base has played a big part in the longevity of the business. The ‘Vawdrey’ name has succeeded on the basis of creating custombuilt products which meet the exact needs of the industries they serve, and many of our customers and partners have showed their gratitude and support by staying with us along the way.
As we surpass 50 years in the industry, continue to innovate in the field of equipment types and productivity vehicles and expand our national presence, catering to customers will, as always, be front of mind.
It’s what we do.
IRRESISTIBLE FORCE
On 27 September 1974, Vawdrey’s story began. It was when Mick Vawdrey first opened a business in Braeside, Victoria, a move that would change the game forever.
In his early working life, Mick was a plumber by day and a tow truck driver by
night. He worked both jobs to generate an income until, at the age of 24, he was involved in a car accident which left him a paraplegic.
Six months later, after leaving the hospital and returning to work, Mick, with a characteristic restlessness and a five-year-
old son to support, decided to go out on his own and create his own truck body building business. Vawdrey was born.
At the beginning, Mick would spend most of his days trying to sell his equipment, and at night he would build it. And, despite being wheelchair-bound from his accident, he
found strength in what others might have perceived as a disadvantage. Mick would tell his son, Paul, that the wheelchair was an asset to the company as it made him focus on growing the business rather than losing himself in the actual production process. Now, as he proudly watches his son guide the company through the next generation of Australian transport, it’s clear that he was right.
That being said, Mick is still very much involved in Vawdrey’s production process. The founder continues to check every trailer combination before it leaves the yard to ensure customers are receiving the same renowned quality since he opened the business’ doors 50 years ago.
Ultimately, Mick’s true contribution to the industry lies in his commitment to people –a commitment that he passed on to his son who shares the same view.
“Everyone here has a sense of ownership for the brand and the product, and that is arguably Mick’s greatest achievement,” Paul says. “Along the way, he has ‘adopted’ so many talented people who are now seen as part of the extended family. The loyalty people have to Mick and the company is quite special in a time like today. For Mick, Vawdrey would be nothing without his people.”
Since the early days, Vawdrey has gradually grown into one of Australia’s most prominent trailer builders while also managing to retain local manufacturing. It has become an institution of modern Australian trailer design and has paved the way for today’s revolutionary technology which is often taken for granted. Mick and his team, for example, pioneered the OH&S movement with the launch of an automatic mezzanine deck system and the
development of an automatic, load-rated buckle-less curtain just over a decade ago. Since 2012, Vawdrey also helped the Performance-Based Standards (PBS) scheme expand beyond the classic truckand-dog segment and brought it to the general and refrigerated freight market, effectively helping Australia’s road transport community cement its reputation as the most progressive in the world.
Vawdrey’s PBS journey began with the design of a Super B-double capable of hauling two 40’ containers at once, operating under strict PBS guidelines set out by Victoria’s traffic and road authority. It also rolled out a whole range of Super B-double combinations less than a year later based on the same concept, marking a major milestone in increased access for Higher Productivity Freight Vehicles (HPFV). “Vawdrey understands the unique
challenges Australian operators have to face and provides a wide range of solutions, and the company’s portfolio is constantly expanding,” Paul says. “As a specialist in the design and construction of PBS trailing equipment, backed by a solid repair and service network, Vawdrey has, time and time again, strengthened the transport capabilities of businesses to maximise payload gains and improve vehicle operator safety.”
Following the uptake in PBS-approved equipment, Vawdrey has brought several other innovations to market as well, such as variations of the Wingliner which provides the security and load restraint benefits of a van with the flexibility of a curtain-sided trailer. On the other hand, Vawdrey’s buckle-less curtain system took load restraint to the next level by combining safety and efficiency. The loadrated curtain’s strength comes from carbon fibre straps that are connected to the roof of the trailer using a pivoting double roller system. A specially designed lower hook and tensioning system provides the tension required and flawless load restraint. Above all else, Vawdrey provides a comprehensive product range including robust skeletal trailers that are designed to withstand heavy impact loading, Titeliner trailers, flat deck and drop deck semitrailers, dry freight FRP vans, and, of course, its well-known Iceliner freezer trailer line. All of these trailer types are available in configurations from single applications to B-doubles, B-triples, road trains and A-doubles.
To bolster the diverse trailer portfolio, Vawdrey also adds value with innovative
technologies such as the Auto Lock Deck System which optimises deck handling safety and efficiency.
“We have built a reputation on our ability to custom build products to meet the exacting needs of our customers,” Paul says. “Our national presence continues to grow as we look after our local and international clientele. Demand from logistics businesses worldwide is on the rise for valuable safe and efficient trailing equipment branded with the Vawdrey name.”
As an integral player in the evolution of Australia’s semi-trailer building industry, Vawdrey stands unfazed with a lasting reputation based on quality, innovation and dedication. And, as the business enters the second half of a century, it’s already making strides. Looking ahead, Paul says Vawdrey is still in growth mode.
“We just bought a new facility across the road from our main plant in Dandenong South in Victoria that we’re going to be expanding on,” he says. “The state-of-theart facility will become our new service and repair warehouse, and it will be operational by the end of this year.”
Paul reveals Vawdrey’s previous service and repair warehouse will be transformed into a new dedicated refrigerated trailer manufacturing plant. This, he says, will enable Vawdrey to grow its freezer trailer products while also increasing production output in its main factory.
“We’ve seen enormous growth over the last five years with temperature-controlled trailers and the refrigerated supply chain,” he says. “It’s been a massive growth area for our business, so we’ll be bringing in two more refrigerated trailer lines as well.”
Meanwhile, all of the factors which have allowed Vawdrey to become a dominant force will remain in place. Paul says Vawdrey will continue to use Australian resources such as locally sourced steel and aluminium wherever it can,
while simultaneously making further advancements in the field of PBS.
“We will keep pushing the boundaries while continuing to focus on our customer service,” he says. “It’s an evolving industry, so we’re always learning things and changing things. We will continue to be the leaders in PBS by putting bigger trailers on the road which allow for a lot more freight to be carried.
“We are still in growth mode after 50 years, and we will continue to expand and increase our market share.”
Dyers Distribution is another Australian family business which has stood the test of time. The business, which celebrated its 90th anniversary in recent years, also has a rich and extensive history with Vawdrey which covers a significant portion of its existence.
Dyers Distribution was founded in 1932 by Leo Dyer in Sale, Eastern Victoria. Now under the leadership of Leo’s grandsons, David, Greg and Scott, the family business maintains its heritage as it approaches a 100-year milestone in the industry.
Dyers Distribution specialises in food logistics and also offers services for contract logistics, fast moving consumer goods distribution, warehousing, linehaul and 4PL. Having gained a plethora of experience since its inception, the family now prides itself on being an enduring service provider for road distribution across eastern Victoria.
For 35 years, Vawdrey has captivated Dyers Distribution. Holding an exceptional ability to manufacture high quality and lasting builds, Vawdrey, for the last quarter of a century, has also been Dyers Distribution’s primary trailer supplier.
“Their build quality and attention to detail is without question the best,” says Dyers Distribution Director, David Dyer.
The relationship between both successful businesses, David recalls, truly cemented in 2002. Dyers Distribution was awarded a new metropolitan distribution contract that required 50 trailers to be built in the span of just a few weeks, so David and his brothers turned to Mick and Paul for an immediate solution. Looking back, David says they weren’t let down, to say the least.
“It’s a great story,” he says. “It was a week before Christmas. We went in to Vawdrey and ordered the trailers on a handshake with Mick and Paul. But when we got back to our office, which is a two-hour drive, we
worked out that we hadn’t made sufficient provisions for electric pallet jacks that would go on the back of the trailers. So, I rang Paul up and said to him, ‘We’ve mucked up some of the dimensions on the length, I’m just wondering whether we could change it?’ and he said, ‘I better go out and tell the guys in the workshop, they’ve already started cutting the rails.’
“By the time we got home, they had already commenced building six trailers. To not only provide that responsiveness but have faith in our organisation and be able to adhere to our timelines is remarkable. It was unfortunate that we had to change the length of the first six trailers, but we realised at that point that Vawdrey had our back 100 per cent. They were going to make sure that we met our deadlines, and we did.”
The full order of trailers, consisting of a mixture of dry and refrigerated vans, were deployed for the metropolitan contract which Dyers Distribution still holds. In these operations, the fleet transports freight for some of Australia’s biggest food and supermarket giants along the eastern seaboard through Brisbane, Victoria and Adelaide, as well as in regional areas within a 400-kilometre radius of these cities.
On top of this, Dyers Distribution is heavily involved with interstate linehaul between Melbourne and Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and Melbourne and Adelaide. Still powering the metropolitan contract to this day, David says, are the Vawdrey trailers purchased two decades ago.
“Some of those trailers are still being used on a daily basis 20 years later,” he says. “These vehicles have done 50,000 metropolitan loads and they’re still operating in one of the most demanding tasks.”
Following the initial order, Dyers Distribution has accumulated a range of trailers from Vawdrey. The fleet is primarily made up of PBS units which David says have increased productivity significantly across the business due to the way they are constructed.
“Vawdrey is very innovative with their designs, so the trailers bring a lot of efficiency,” he says. “Above all else, they are reliable and dependable. Vawdrey will basically build anything we want, and that’s probably one of their biggest strengths. Most of our orders are PBS trailers, so they are custom built for
specific combinations and routes in some cases.
“Their design and engineering team are first class. With vehicle design, most of the room for innovation is in the trailer. We’ve got absolute confidence in the Vawdrey team that they are the best supplier to achieve that innovation, and in turn, efficiency.”
In hindsight, David believes it’s hard to come by businesses that can offer bespoke equipment, and, at the same time, have an incredible dedication to their customers.
This, he says, is why Dyers Distribution was fortunate to find Vawdrey.
“There are very few businesses in life that show faith in their customers like Vawdrey does,” he says. “I believe their ability to make trailers and do it so well is unmatched. Every
time a trailer turns up it is built exactly how we expect it and it’s ready to work.”
As a fellow family business in the industry, Dyers Distribution commends Vawdrey on what it has achieved.
“We’re very appreciative of everything they have done for us,” David says. “More importantly, it’s just fantastic to see such an incredible story of a family business that has really succeeded in such a tough market. Vawdrey is going from strength to strength and their range is increasing. They’re doing exceptionally well.
“We understand the amount of drive, passion and overall teamwork that is required to make what they have done happen, and we’re really proud to be close enough to them to witness it.”
David Dyer and Paul Vawdrey.
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IN PEOPLE INVESTING
Refrigerated transport specialist, Hawk Logistics, has taken delivery of a significant number of high productivity PerformanceBased Standards refrigerated trailers from Vawdrey.
Like many before it, Hawk Logistics was built on a chance. This chance was taken by Amrit Paul and Harmanpreet Singh, two university students who saw potential in the market for a new kind of logistics operation. Hawk Logistics formed in 2014, when the two students combined their limited resources to acquire their first truck, and it now celebrates its 10th anniversary.
Hawk Logistics is now an industry powerhouse. Mainly servicing refrigerated transport, the company has grown to a team of 500 people with more than 800 assets – a mix of fleet vehicles and logistics equipment.
Much of this unprecedented growth was experienced over the last three years, according to Hawk Logistics CEO, Miguel Vitug. “We’ve had exceptional growth in our business, with almost 35 to 40 per cent year-on-year growth in this time period,” he says. “Our trajectory over these last few years has been remarkable.”
This rapid upwards
trajectory has come with new territory –Hawk Logistics’ acquisition of Adelaide-based AR Logistics last October saw another 50 new staff join the team, along with 100 new pieces of equipment. For Miguel, this constant addition of employees is a vital aspect of Hawk Logistics’ team.
“Hawk Logistics invests significantly in people,” he says. “We’ve had extraordinary growth in our business, but to support that growth, it’s been essential to attract new and specialised talent within the industry.”
To support this new wave of valuable team members, Miguel has worked extensively to restructure Hawk Logistics’ management in the ten months since he joined the company, meticulously creating new roles and developing others where necessary to provide the most efficient framework for success.
“We’ve created new senior management and leadership roles across our business, informed by the talent we have and based on what we want to grow into,” he says. “For us, it’s crucial to have that structure to support our journey.”
At Hawk Logistics, this careful investment in people extends to its business ventures and partnerships. The company has conducted fruitful business with Vawdrey for five
years, showing no signs of stopping any time soon.
“Vawdrey has been instrumental in our growth,” Miguel says. “Without Vawdrey supporting us and being a major trailer manufacturer for our business, we definitely wouldn’t have been able to grow as fast as we have.”
Both Vawdrey and Hawk Logistics share core values in their business approaches, placing immense importance on domestic production, ambitions for long-term growth and customer service. Miguel views Vawdrey as a diligent business partner which takes care of its clients through every step of the process, from product purchasing to aftersales care.
“They are extremely supportive in their aftersales relationship,” he says. “Vawdrey definitely holds a similar focus to us, where customer relationships are paramount in business.”
In its latest trailer delivery, Hawk Logistics obtained 23 Iceliner combinations from Vawdrey. Dedicated to the fleet’s logistics corridor between Melbourne and Adelaide, the order consists of 15 34-pallet Iceliner B-doubles,
two 30m Performance-Based Standards (PBS) quad-quad Iceliner B-doubles and six 36.5m PBS Iceliner A-doubles.
“These particular road trains have been made for one of our major customers,” Miguel says.
“You’ll be seeing six to eight of these road trains in a convoy every single day, travelling from Melbourne to Adelaide.”
These vehicles have been greatly customised to carry out their refrigerated transport tasks, featuring full-length chassis trails, 40mm fibreglass and styrofoam insulated side walls to retain cold temperatures, full width skidplates, fully welded knurled distribution alloy floors, BPW Transpec axles and suspensions, E-Max Air-Weigh digital weighing systems for OnBoard Mass (OBM) compliance and more.
In Miguel’s view, many of these specs exceed the industry’s standard for transport equipment, guaranteeing quality delivery.
“We always strive for the best specs in our equipment because that is how we bring value to our customers,” he says. “For example, our E-Max Air-Weigh digital weighing system enables drivers to check the payload weight of what customers are loading, giving them control and knowledge of the freight and
making sure we’re safe and compliant.
“We also use quad-quad Super B-doubles to maximise the value of what our customers can have transported, the cost per kilogram. These add-ons are above and beyond the industry average.”
In addition to efficient transport, Hawk Logistics’ new road train freezer vans were designed and ordered with safety in mind, aiming to uphold the company’s longstanding commitment to safe practice amongst its vehicles for transport drivers and other motorists sharing the road. As of 2018, all Hawk Logistics fleet vehicles have included fatigue-monitoring software which ensures drivers are fully attentive behind the wheel. According to Miguel, the design of the Vawdrey vehicles coupled with this technology will minimise road risks.
“Increasing our carrying capacity by using road trains mitigates the number of individual trucks we need to run on the road,” he says.
“That means we’ll have less
risk. For us, we’re concerned with putting our best drivers out there, preparing them for success and mitigating their risk using proven technology.”
Hawk Logistics’ 10-year history has been defined by the company’s investments in people. From founding friends and growing employees to established partnerships with key industry players like Vawdrey, the company’s personal investments in those around it have seemingly paid off at every turn. Hawk Logistics’ rapid expansion and subsequent management restructuring has become something of a watershed moment. Preparing for more success ahead, Miguel is certain that the tried-and-true approach of investing in people will take Hawk Logistics far in its newly christened era of business. “This is the new Hawk,” he says.
AUTO DRIVE CURTAIN
Twenty years in the making is Vawdrey’s new Auto Drive Titeliner curtain system, an innovation which will transform heavy vehicle operations with the push of a button.
Gone are the days of drivers struggling to manually open and close heavy and unwieldy curtains as they load and unload trailers. Vawdrey, with its new Auto Drive Titeliner system, will revolutionise the logistics and transportation industries by automating trailer curtain handling –replacing manual labour with a one-touch fully automatic system.
The system’s effortless operation, which features a torque range to accommodate different-sized curtains, will result in increased productivity, improved safety and time savings as it does away with time consuming manual operations.
Vawdrey Australia General Manager, Alastair Lang, says the automated drive system will simplify a driver’s work.
“You can press a button at the front or rear of the trailer and the curtain will automatically slide from one end to the other and vice versa,” he says. “The idea is to remove the need for the operator to pull the curtain open or closed by hand.”
The Auto Drive Titeliner features a motor which drives along the roof rail of the curtainsider trailer. The automated drive system is suitable for a wide of curtains including Vawdrey’s load restraint SuperStrap curtain, buckle-less load rated curtain and LatchLiner curtain system as well as the standard welded strap and loose sleeve curtains. In addition, it is also suitable for drop deck and double drop deck chassis trailers.
Alastair says the revolutionary system was born out of necessity.
“It removes the need for a driver to manually operate a curtain, reducing OH&S risks associated with pulling curtains open and closed,” he says. “One of the biggest OH&S issues for transport companies these days, especially with curtainsider trailers, is injuries to drivers. Particularly shoulder injuries from pulling curtains.
“The Auto Drive curtain removes the need for a driver to pull the curtain open and
closed. With a simple press of a button, the curtain will power itself.”
Vawdrey realised there was a long-standing need for a quick solution.
“It was a concept that we came up with after a display at a truck show 20 years ago,”
Alastair says. “People kept asking us for an automated curtain. All of this was being driven by the work cover claims and injuries to drivers from manually handling, so it’s something that we knew there was always going to be a market for.”
That concept led Vawdrey to focus on a solution over the last 10 years, with the company now fast-tracking production of the fully patented system.
“We believe that we now have something that is cost effective and suitable for any type of curtain and can be fitted to pretty much any type of trailer,” Alastair explains. “We’ve had prototype units in service for the last 12 months with various fleets which have been a huge success. Driver feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.”
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Vawdrey is highly confident its innovation will rapidly transform the standard curtain systems and improve drivers’ work conditions.
“It’s taking out one manual handling operation from something that could be opened or closed 20 times a day,” Alastair says. “If it removes any potential work cover claims due to shoulder injuries, then there’s significant potential risks removed from the operation.”
The Auto Drive Titeliner takes around 30 seconds to close a curtain on a 16m trailer. Its benefit to the logistics and trucking industries is simple, according to Alastair.
TOP FEATURES
• One button operation
• 12V motor
• Solar or battery-operated
The fully patented system features wireless remotes for connecting and charging docks, so that when the curtain system is parked and the curtain has tension, the drive motors charge enabling them to travel backwards and forwards along the trailer, multiple times. With 10 years in the development stage, Vawdrey has been meticulous with the Auto Drive Titeliner, planning for all eventualities.
The system has a battery system fitted to the trailer and is solar charged by a panel on the trailer roof. It can also be connected to the park light circuit for charging, negating the need for ancillary power systems.
• Stops in any position
• Manual override
• Curtain weight capacity up to 80kg
• 30 seconds to complete (16m trailer)
• Thread technology enables remote operation within range
“It’s pretty much maintenance free,” Alastair says. “The battery system is self-sufficient because of the solar and park light charging system. From a maintenance perspective there’s very little for the operator to do other than visually inspect and keep the system and the drive unit clean. If for some reason it doesn’t work and there’s an issue, you can
• In-built auto safety
• Retrofit
• Works on sloped surfaces (up to six degrees)
pull the curtain open or closed manually.
“There’s a lot of smarts built into the electronics system which make for a smooth operation, and we have the capacity to monitor curtain position status, charge rate and number of uses among other things. But best of all, it is a quick and easy alternative to manually handling a curtain.”
SCAN
LOCKED IN
Vawdrey’s Auto Lock Air mezzanine deck solution has become a standard feature in ATT Logistics’ fleet of Titeliners due to its ability to significantly improve productivity and safety.
ATT Logistics commenced its operations more than 35 years ago as Amalgamated Couriers & Taxi Trucks and is now known as one of Brisbane’s largest logistics operators, with locations throughout Victoria and New South Wales as well.
providing contract logistics capabilities for its blue-chip client base along with distribution and warehouse services available too. These include warehouse storage and distribution, supply chain solutions, cross-docking, container consolidating and de-consolidating and much more.
leading retailers, with safety being a part of everything we do,” says ATT Logistics Director, Garry Clarke. “We’ve been expanding fairly well with growth seen year after year.”
ATT Logistics’ first growth phase saw the company expand its operations in Melbourne in 2017 with the opening of its Keysborough location. From there, it opened a Sydney site in Yennora in 2020.
While there’s been a lot of change at ATT Logistics and more to follow (plans to further expand into Adelaide and Perth are currently in progress), the business has retained a lot of factors along the way. This, Garry says, is something very important to the heart of it.
“Our organisation has a balanced growth plan that involves further collaboration with its existing customers while ensuring that new relationships are in line with the core offerings of our business,” he says. “Even though our company has grown over the last few decades, we’ve retained our balance of organisational size with a personal touch. We’ve had some of our customers for 19 years now, and to stay with them and have that longevity means we’re doing something right.”
ATT Logistics’ relationship with Australian trailer manufacturer, Vawdrey, is a prime example of this commitment to retaining partnerships.
“We have a great relationship with Vawdrey,” Garry says. “They’re very responsive and if we need equipment they make sure we get it in time. If we’ve got a very tight lead time on a new contract, they’ll bend over backwards to make sure we hit the targets.
“Vawdrey is at the forefront with technology, too. They’ve always got new things to show you which is important, so it’s a very good relationship.”
ATT Logistics began dealing with Vawdrey shortly after its inception when it was time to start purchasing new trailers. Since then,
the company has established an extensive fleet of 250 trailers all from Vawdrey which include standard B-doubles, Titeliners, refrigerated trailers, 48’ flat tops and mezzanine drop decks. Remaining with ATT Logistics through thick and thin, they have each played a significant role by catering to the increased demand seen as the company has continued to grow.
“They have been very reliable,” Garry says. “They’re built robust, so they’re strong and very hard to hurt. They’ve been really good.”
The trailers operate predominantly throughout metropolitan areas in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney. They travel from Brisbane to Newcastle every day, as well as to and from Mildura within Melbourne and as far as Canberra within their Sydney routes.
ATT Logistics’ latest trailer delivery consists of three 48’ mezzanine deck Titeliners each fitted with Vawdrey’s Auto Lock Air mezzanine deck solution, a feature which is spec’d as standard on all of the fleet’s mezzanine floor trailers. The units arrived towards the end of last year and according to Garry have been performing exceptionally.
“The new trailers have been very good, they don’t give us any dramas at all,” he says.
“We use the Auto Lock systems because we want to be safer, and we want our drivers to know that. They are much easier
than having to move decks manually, so they’re a great safety feature for our fleet.”
Vawdrey’s Auto Lock Air mezzanine deck solution allows operators to raise or lower decks via a forklift without having to climb the trailer platform and handle them manually. The system also increases pallet capacities for businesses by providing maximum flexibility in transit, resulting in better efficiency and higher payloads.
In addition, it is also able to significantly reduce the amount of time it takes to change deck positions in a trailer – unlocking a whole other level of productivity. Garry himself is a big fan of it.
“I like it, it’s really good,” he says. “It’s pretty safe and easy to use, so it’s a really good setup.”
The productivity and safety benefits of the system have been two major advantages for ATT Logistics.
“The guys are unloading twice the product when they get into the larger warehouses,” Garry says. “So, while they are cringing at the fact that they have to do more work, it means we are a lot more productive.
“The Auto Lock solution is also reducing damage to the product because there’s plenty of room in the trailers and you can
fit different configurations of pallets in them. That’s definitely been a big benefit for the business.”
In terms of the success that ATT Logistics has experienced in recent years, Garry attributes a lot of it to the trailers that have been able to keep up with the increased demand. This, he says, is also testament to Vawdrey itself.
“Our Vawdrey trailers have certainly catered to the growth experienced,” he says.
“We’ve bought a fair few trailers over the time, so they grow with us.”
Garry also commends Vawdrey and the people behind it for supporting ATT Logistics to no end.
“Vawdrey’s aftersales service is impeccable,” he says. “Nothing’s a problem when it comes to that. Vawdrey is very flexible and they’ll work with you to find a solution.
“They’re very trustworthy, and I’ve just stayed with them because they’ve never let me down. We build a relationship with every supplier we have, and we’ve had this relationship for years.
“You can rely on Vawdrey, and that is very important in our game.”
MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE
Global freight forwarder, Mondiale VGL, has expanded its fleet with a series of Vawdrey Performance-Based Standards quad-axle skels that are designed to maximise payloads when transporting heavy containers.
Mondiale VGL is a leading Oceaniabased freight forwarder and a rising force in global supply chain solutions. Ranked among the world’s top 30 logistics firms, the company continues to expand its strategic presence across New Zealand, Australia, Asia, Europe and America.
The 2021 merger of Mondiale (New Zealand) and Visa Global Logistics (Australia) created one of the region’s largest freight-forwarding firms, enhancing trade lane access and improving supply chain efficiencies. Since then, Mondiale VGL has maintained a strong growth trajectory.
Within a year of the merger, the company acquired South Australian customs and logistics provider, Customs Agency Services, followed by the 2024 acquisition of Interunion which extended its intermodal transport network across Singapore,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Mondiale VGL has also invested in infrastructure by opening a new transport facility in Christchurch, NZ, and developing a purpose-built facility in Perth which is set to open in the second quarter of this year. With a focus on global scale and regional expertise, Mondiale VGL continues to expand its international footprint while reinforcing its presence in core domestic markets including Australia. Growth in the stone and tile sector in this key market has led Mondiale
VGL to enhance its capabilities in transporting specialised heavy containers, and the company has recently taken delivery of eight new Vawdrey Performance-Based Standards (PBS) skels to cater for this expansion. The order consisted of a quantity of quad-axle retractable skels as well as quad-axle drop deck skels featuring full-width hydraulic rear ramp platforms for safe forklift loading and unloading.
“We’ve onboarded a number of stone and tile companies recently, many of which require dock and onsite deliveries,” says Mondiale VGL Fleet and Compliance Manager ANZ, Rory Gerhardt. “As a result, our need for quad trailers has grown significantly.
“Most of our heavy containers are around the 30-tonne mark. We need equipment that can handle this weight, and quads are perfect for that.”
The units were specifically designed to maximise payloads in these applications – an objective which Rory says has successfully been achieved.
“We don’t go overboard chasing certain payloads on our skels, but we’re always working closely with Vawdrey to determine what’s achievable,” he says. “We aimed for a payload in excess of 33 tonnes on the new quad combinations and we successfully achieved just over that in their carrying capacity.”
Mondiale VGL’s
new skels have been operating up and down the east coast of Australia predominantly, with some transporting out of metropolitan areas in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. They have integrated seamlessly into an existing fleet of around 300 Vawdrey trailers. Aside from a handful of B-double Titeliners and approximately 40 sideloaders, the trailers are mostly skels which account for a large portion of Mondiale VGL’s operations.
“We’ve had Vawdrey skels in our fleet for a number of years”, Rory says. “These latest ones are different because of the roller systems spec’d for smoother operations with heavier boxes.
“The rollers suit our operations better than the Teflon slide plates we used in the past because they make opening and closing the trailers a lot easier.”
By partnering with Vawdrey for the majority of its fleet, Rory says Mondiale VGL knows its vehicles will be taken care of no matter where they are.
“Limiting the number of manufacturers
certainly helps,” he says. “You won’t be travelling all around the countryside to find one particular part because you’re dealing with one person for the majority of the fleet.
“At the end of the day, if you’ve got a fleet predominantly of Vawdrey trailers you know that your parts, servicing and breakdowns are going to be covered.”
These benefits are also tied together by the impeccable aftersales service which Vawdrey has built a reputation on.
“Vawdrey is always good to work with,” Rory says. “We were working at pace to meet a rapid influx of new customer needs. They slotted us in and had them turned around in under 10 weeks.
“We choose Vawdrey because the product suits what we do and the support provided is great. Vawdrey helped us with some of our first PBS applications in the early days and 95 per cent of our fleet is now PBS. We’ve kept close ties with them and they’ve really helped us along the journey.”
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